Advance Health Care Directive
What Is an Advance Health Care Directive?
An Advance Health Care Directive is a document that legally records your preferences regarding medical treatments and decisions. This directive comes into effect if you are unable to communicate or make decisions due to a medical condition. The document typically includes two key components:
- Living Will
- Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Standard Will
A living will outlines the specific medical treatments you wish to receive or avoid. This could include life-sustaining treatments like resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, or tube feeding. It allows you to maintain control over your medical care, even when you are not able to express your preferences directly.
In addition to a living will, an Advance Health Care Directive typically includes a designation of a Power of Attorney (POA) for health care. This is a trusted individual you appoint to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so. This person, often referred to as a healthcare proxy or agent, will ensure that your healthcare wishes are carried out and will make decisions in alignment with your values.
While a standard will primarily deals with the distribution of your assets, it is often an important part of the overall planning process. Although it is not included in an Advance Health Care Directive, we recommend ensuring both documents are in place to provide peace of mind to you and your family.
The Advance Health Care Directive Package
At Aariel Hospice, we offer a comprehensive Advance Health Care Directive Package that includes everything you need to outline your medical and personal preferences:
LIVING WILL PREPARATION
We assist you in drafting a living will, specifying the treatments you want to accept or decline in case of a serious illness or injury.
POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE SETUP
We help you designate a trusted person as your healthcare proxy to ensure your wishes are honored.
STANDARD WILL CONSULTATION
While a standard will is separate from healthcare directives, we encourage you to ensure both are properly set up to cover all aspects of your future planning.
GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT
Our team provides personalized guidance throughout the process, ensuring you understand every aspect of the directive and are confident in your decisions.
Why Is an Advance Health Care Directive Important?
Planning ahead with an Advance Health Care Directive offers several significant benefits:
- Peace of Mind: You and your family will have peace of mind knowing that your healthcare wishes are clear and legally binding, preventing potential conflicts among loved ones and healthcare providers.
- Maintaining Control: The directive ensures that you remain in control of your medical treatment, even when you are unable to communicate. It guarantees that your preferences are respected, whether you wish to pursue life-sustaining measures or prioritize comfort care.
- Relieving Family Burden: Without an Advance Health Care Directive, families may be forced to make difficult decisions during a stressful time. This document removes the burden of guessing your wishes, reducing stress for your loved ones.
How to Get Started with Your Advance Health Care Directive
At Aariel Hospice, we’re here to guide you through every step of the process. Whether you are beginning the process of creating your directive or revisiting an existing one, we can help ensure that everything is in order. Our compassionate team is available to answer any questions you may have and provide the legal resources necessary to set up your Advance Health Care Directive Package.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one are considering creating an Advance Health Care Directive, contact Aariel Hospice today. Our knowledgeable team will help you put the right plans in place, ensuring that your healthcare preferences are respected when you need them most.
