Latest News:
For Immediate Release: April 14, 2010

Take Time Now to Document Your Healthcare Wishes

Friday, April 16—National Healthcare Decisions Day!

Jacksonville, Fla. – People across the country are focusing today on their healthcare choices—it’s the right thing to do for your loved ones if you become seriously ill or the unthinkable happens and you couldn’t make your own decisions.

As part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Friday, April 16, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida encourages you and provides a tool to help you complete your advance directives.

“It’s often difficult for individuals to think about and discuss the care and treatment they want in the event they become incapable of making their own healthcare decisions,” explains Lee Ann Johnson, director of psychosocial, spiritual care and volunteer services at Community Hospice.

“As hospice experts, we work with families facing end-of-life choices each day, and we know how valuable it can be for patients to think about and share details about their preferences regarding care they would like to receive—or not receive—if they develop a terminal illness or a life-threatening injury.”

Studies have shown that although the majority of people believe that having some form of advance directive is a good idea, most have not taken the time to capture their wishes in writing. Many people state that they want a family member to make healthcare decisions for them. However, less than half have discussed the issue and their specific desires with loved ones. Without advance directives in place, someone who may not know your wishes may be responsible for decisions about your care.

Advance directives, in the form of a living will and/or designated healthcare surrogate, can help reduce:
· Personal worry
· Feelings of helplessness and guilt by family members
· Futile, costly, specialized interventions a patient may not want
· Confusion about which treatments a patient may want
· Legal concerns for everyone involved

“The process of creating advance directives may seem difficult because it requires you to think about your priorities regarding quality of life and your death,” acknowledges Johnson. “But there are tools to help you discuss options and document your wishes so your family as well as healthcare providers can appropriately follow through on your behalf if necessary.”

Advance care planning may include the following:
· Decisions on specific procedures or treatments, such as CPR (if cardiac or respiratory arrest occurs); artificial nutrition through intravenous or tube feedings; prolonged maintenance on a respirator (if unable to breathe adequately alone); organ donation
· Who you want to make healthcare decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself
· How comfortable you want to be and how you want people to treat you

“No one can predict what situations may arise in the future or what new modes of care may be available for situations considered nearly hopeless today, so it is important to remember that advance care planning decisions can be changed at any time,” Johnson advises. “However, if a living will is changed, everyone involved should be informed and new copies provided.”

Advance care planning is about thinking, preparing and communicating before a health crisis occurs so decisions are made that reflect your choices. National Healthcare Decisions Day is a good time to start this conversation with your loved ones.

It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give to your loved ones,” Johnson stated.

To request a free copy of the “Five Wishes” booklet, which is available in multiple languages and written in simple language to walk you through this process—email or call Community Hospice at 904.407.7024. When contacting us, please give your name, address and language preference.

# # #

Established in 1979 as the first community-based, nonprofit hospice program in Northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida helps nearly 1,000 patients live better with advanced illness each day in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, through the support of more than 700 employees and nearly 900 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 53,000 children and adults — at home, in long term care facilities, hospitals and through its four inpatient centers throughout Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation™ generates philanthropic and community support for patient care services, family needs and community programs such as Community PedsCare®, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. No one is ever denied care due to an inability to pay. To learn more about the support and services of Community Hospice, visit communityhospice.com.

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida and Community PedsCare are registered trademarks and Community Hospice Foundation is a trademark of Community Hospice of Northeast Florida, Inc.

Contact:

Doreen O'Toole

Communications Specialist

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida

904.407.6137

back to Latest News

Archived News

back to top