Ellen Hale, Health Ministry
Advance care planning is not just for end of life. It’s for anytime you cannot make healthcare decisions for yourself. Most of us have difficulty imaging being in a situation where we cannot make healthcare decisions for ourselves. Then again, we all know family members and friends who have lost the ability to make healthcare decisions for themselves.
Many of us have been placed in the position of making healthcare decisions for someone we love, but have worried about whether we’re making the right decisions. Maybe we never discussed the possibility with our loved one who cannot speak on their own behalf.
There’s a remedy for this! Complete a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (DPOA-HC) and designate a spokesperson who can speak on your behalf regarding healthcare decisions. Have conversations with the individual you designate about what is important to you, and consider what you would want to know if you’re designated to make healthcare decisions for someone you love.
What’s stopping you from completing a DPOA-HC? What questions do you have about DPOA-HC? I am offering myself to members of Hope Church as a resource. Feel free to email the church office to get in touch with me, office@hopechurchrca.org.
Online Resources
- The Conversation Project: Conservation Starter Kit
- Holland Hospital: Patient & Visitor Guide: Treatment Decisions & Advance Care Planning
- Holland Hospital: Advance Care Guide
Documentaries