It’s that time of year once again … let’s get beyond taxes and explore health care decisions! 16 April, 2018 is National Health Care Decisions Day! This day exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and health care providers about the importance of advance care planning. Yes, advanced care planning involves legal documents to record your decisions, yet I would like to take this deeper and ask you to consider the practical planning involved around living your life after a medical interruption.
The past weeks have provided me with an opportunity to be involved once again with health care decisions and numerous medical professionals. The refresher course came about through helping a friend prepare and undergo a surgical procedure. When we know about and plan for a surgery, we may make plans for the “what if’s”. If we suddenly require medical care without planning time, everything coming at us can seem daunting.
Let’s look at this from the lens of having time to plan. This shows us the many variables we will experience and allow us to consider our preferences and desires in advance.
Before meeting with doctors, hospital pre-admissions people and post care options, we discussed what legal documents she had and if they were current? Why? Because it always seems that we have time, until we don’t.
In her case, her documents were not current, as her husband had died and she had not updated their trust and documents contained within the trust (Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions and her Advanced Care Directives). Meeting with an attorney allowed her to update her past trust while reevaluating her previous decisions about quality of life and her thoughts about life sustaining measures, decide who she wanted to speak for her “if” and communicate directly with those involved.
Medical teams are an integral part of one’s care. Pre/Post surgery involves many moving parts. Pre-surgery health clearance, meetings with hospital admissions personnel and planning for recovery is not for the “faint of heart”! It is important to have information ready and available: previous surgeries and medical conditions; current prescriptions taken; insurance documentation; payment/co-payment requirements; overall financial responsibility; transportation to/from surgery and yes, an Advanced Health Care Directive and Power of Attorney.
Post-surgery planning involves considering where and how to get back on your feet. If you will need 24 hour care to help with our daily activities, how will you accomplish this? Family, friends, care providers, rehab facility, assisted living or long-term care? Who is on your “team” to help you?
How will you manage pain, physical recovery and physical comfort? Is your home ready for you when you come home? Physical access in/around the home, equipment to help you continue daily living with mobility restrictions, transportation to/from appointments, grocery shopping, laundry and pre-surgery continuance of bill paying, mail, dog walking, et al are important to consider.
Independence, dignity and recovery are linked in my mind. When we make time in advance of situations we can prepare mentally, financially and physically for a return to living life as you desire.
The Living Planner proactively helps you assess ways for you to streamline living today, in preparation for the tomorrows to come at home and business. We explore ways for you to protect what is important to you by asking questions and exploring with you. When you’re ready to explore how to be ready, we’re here for you.
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