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The challenges facing a family when mom, dad, or grandma have had a sudden change in health can tear a family apart as evidenced by the very public battle that occurred in Florida. After the Terri Schiavo case, this may have caused many of us to examine our wants and desires not only at end of life but when a major health crisis occurs. The time to discuss these concerns is long before the crisis that calls families together outside of emergency departments or ICUs, a time when emotions are high and logical decisions seems to be difficult to determine.
In general, families can rarely weigh potential outcomes and make decisions from the same perspective in the time of crisis and stress. We all judge quite differently what quality of life means. The time to discuss wishes for healthcare is when it can be discussed from a broader view. This will be easier when you are planning toward a future event not when that event is thrust upon you and consensus may prove difficult.
The two documents that currently are available and implemented in Iowa are the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions or the Medical Power of Attorney and the Declaration Relating to Life Sustaining Procedures or the Living Will. The Medical Power of Attorney assigns the responsibility to another to make healthcare choices for us when we can not. The Living Will states our wishes specifically for healthcare.
To view the GRMC PowerPoint presentation on Advance Directives, click here.
The Iowa Bar Association and National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization feel that the completion of these documents is so important that they have made the forms available at no cost and other useful information on the web at http://iabar.net/powerofattorney and the http://iabar.net/livingwill. The documents do not require the services of an attorney to complete, however both documents must be either witnessed by two people or notarized to become effective. Of the two witnesses, only one can be a relative and neither can be a healthcare provider currently providing services or an employee of that healthcare provider. Forms are also available by contacting Grinnell Regional Hospice at 641-236-2418.
A different format for completion of the Living Will is a document entitled Five Wishes. This document asks very specific questions tied to different circumstances and may be obtained either by contacting Grinnell Regional Hospice or calling 1-888-5-WISHES. This document meets requirements and is legally accepted in 35 states. Unfortunately, each state has a slightly different requirement for completion of advance directives. Currently, legislation is pending to make the completion and implementation of the documents universal through out the United States.
After completion, you will need to provide copies of these documents to your family, your physician or other healthcare providers, your attorney, and/or clergy, if appropriate. A discussion of your wishes is certainly appropriate with those who received the documents to either clarify or verify your wishes. A periodic review of the documents to determine that they still meet your needs would be appropriate. These documents may be completed by anyone over 18 years of age.
Grinnell Regional Hospice offers a booklet, “The Gift of Peace of Mind,” a step-by-step guide to preparing advance directive documents. It is available to anyone wishing a copy. Simply contact the Grinnell Regional Hospice office at 641-236-2418.
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