what if you can’t speak for yourself?

Continuing from last week: Advance Care Planning is a process of reflection and communication to let others know what kind of health and personal care you’d want if  incapacitated. You may be thinking, “I’m healthy and not about to die” or “My spouse/partner/family will take care of all that”. But what if the unexpected knocks on your door and you can’t communicate your wishes? What if you experience a serious accident or diagnosis of a life-threatening illness? All too often medical staff, friends, and family are faced with the agonizing dilemma of “What would s/he have wanted?”

Below —

1. Video: 5 steps to start your advance care planning (source);
2. Links to helpful resources;
3. My own planning steps to date.

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Further resources: Canada and U.S.A.

• Deciding on DNR instructions (“Do Not Recucsitate”)
• Advance Care Planning (US National Institute of Health)
• Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment: workbook to download (Government of BC)
• State-specific Advance Directive Forms
• Step-by-step planning guide (Health Canada)
• The African American Spiritual and Ethical Guide to End of Life Care
• Health care decisions and the law (Canada)

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Here’s what I’ve done so far: 

• Reviewed DNR and MOST orders with my doctor, aka my most responsible practitioner (MRP);
• Attached the DNR order on the kitchen fridge to alert emergency responders;
• Reviewed an existing Representation Agreement with two friends (both nurses working in long-term, community, and hospice care);
• Hosted a meeting with above Representatives and the friend who holds enduring power of attorney (POA);
• Accepted a nurse friend’s offer to mastermind my eventual care: “You’ll never go into long-term care as long as I live,” she said;
• Also a promise by a friend who lives close by to assist when needed, in any way possible;
• Left a spare house key with neighbours across the street;
• Made arrangement for my dog “Waldi” to be cared for;
• Researched Medical Alert Systems (panic button for emergency response).