Advance care planning
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Power of Attorney for Health Care |
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Download a complete Power of Attorney for Health
Care form:
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When you become ill, you have the right to say yes or no to treatment
options. But what if you became unable to decide for yourself? Who would
speak for you? And would they know what you want and don't want? Take some steps now to make sure your wishes are known.
Where
do I start?
One way to make your wishes known is to put them in writing through
an advance directive, like the Five Wishes®
or the Aurora Health Care advance directive. Without these legal
documents, your health care providers do not know your important medical
care decisions such as life-support, pain management or hospice choices.
Why do I need an advance directive?
An advance directive gives you control over your health care
decisions and provides the information to the healthcare team for you if
you are unable to communicate. It guides the decisions of the
health care team and provides comfort to your family, preventing them
from guessing what it is that you would want.
When do I need to create an advance directive?
The best time to
create an advance directive is before you are sick… when you have clear
understanding about your options and can communicate them to your family
and doctor.
What happens if I do not have an advance directive?
If you cannot speak for yourself and do not have an advance directive, your health care providers will look to your family or
close friends to help make decisions about your care. If they
are unsure or cannot agree, a court-appointed guardian may be requested to make the decisions for you.
What is an advance directive?
An advance directive is a legal document that can be made free of
cost. There are several types of advance directives, including the
following.
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Available at all
Aurora Health Care facilities Spring 2009!
Power of Attorney for Health Care document such as the
Five
Wishes® names a person that can make decisions for you if you
cannot. This person is chosen by you, and named in the document to
make certain that your wishes are followed. The document is easy
to understand and comes in 23 languages as well as Braille. The
document gives you the opportunity to choose your wishes and
allows you to cross out those you do not want by giving clear
instructions to follow.
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A Living Will is also an advance directive, but does
not name a person to speak for you. It is a legal document that
states your preference for life-support if you are terminally ill
or are in a “persistent vegetative state.”
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 Do I need both a Living Will and a Power of Healthcare Attorney?
No, you do not need both; however, if you have both, the Power of
Attorney for Health Care will take precedence.
If I already have a Power of Attorney for Health Care, do I need to complete a new Five Wishes® document as well?
No, it isn’t necessary to create a new advance directive… only if you
wish to include more information should you make a new advance directive. The old document can be changed or revoked at any time. You
can make changes with a new form, writing and addendum, or telling your
healthcare provider.
What should you do with it once you have
it?
Keep it in a safe place and let your family or others close to you
know where they can find it if needed. If you travel, you may wish to
take a copy with you. Give a copy to:
- Your health care provider (you'll want to discuss the form and
make sure he or she agrees to honor your wishes)
- Your health care agent (named in your Power of Attorney for
Health Care)
- Your family or others close to you
- Your lawyer if you have one
- The clinic or hospital where you go for care (for your medical
record)
If I need HELP filling out a Five Wishes, whom can I call?
Ask your health care provider or call 1-888-863-5502 to find out how
an Aurora Health Care facilitator can help you.
For further information on advance directives go to
Aging with Dignity.
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