This was originally posted as a Tip of the Week brought to you by TIPINIONS www.tipinions.com (on May 8/23).
We felt the need to take it one step further and add it to the Important Information tab to be read anytime without going looking for it in a post as many would not necessarily see it there.
These can be referred to as Living Wills or Health Care Directives.
This is a will that captures the ability for you to have and make all necessary choices for your life if you become incapacitated and in a circumstance where you can’t make your own decisions – usually brought on by an accident or illness.
Living wills and other advance directives are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Advance directives guide choices for doctors and caregivers if you're terminally ill, seriously injured, in a coma, in the late stages of dementia or near the end of life, along with providing a health proxy.
A health proxy is the person you have put in charge of the decisions when you are not able to make the decisions yourself.
Advance directives aren't just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it's important for all adults to prepare these documents. (taken from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/living-wills/art-20046303 )
This is very different at different stages of your life and again needs to be revisited as needed.
I have found this website to be the most helpful and informative when making such decisions. Both my husband and I have completed the health decisions worksheet. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/lwforms
Here is a MB provincial link for these items and further detail regarding them:
https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/livingwill.html
When you are making your living will, don’t be frigid, think of those left behind. For example, I know that most people do not want to live on life support and want to say no to that. But at that point, you wouldn’t really know that it is keeping you alive…instead think of your children, grandchildren, spouse and recognize that they may need some time to come to terms with what has happened and each precious moment with you would be of so much value to their lives. Give them time to say goodbye, so be considerate of their needs when filling something like this out as well.
Give them the gift of the time they will need with you prior to you leaving.
During this time and filling out a living will or health care directive, it is important to appoint a Power of Attorney for your health decisions. Think carefully on who you will be able to have those tough conversations with that will need to follow and uphold your decisions, while keeping your loved ones informed. Some people would like to choose their children, but think about how your fragile health will affect your children and allow them to go through the emotions without having to make tough decisions. If you have a friend that you can trust fully and completely, that might be a better choice. Your spouse should usually be your first choice, but talk and think about who would represent you the best in that moment.
It is also important to make it clear who you want discussing things with the doctor. It is unfair for the doctors and specialists to be bombarded by emotional family members, make it clear in your living will or HCD on who will be discussing things with the doctors and who will be making the decisions. It is helpful for the medical professionals as well, if there is clarity on this topic.
As you grow older, you will need to make changes accordingly. Check it as needed and make any necessary changes to reflect your wishes.
Questions to Ponder:
What do you want this to look like for you?
For others?
What quality of life do you want?
What will others need in that moment, if it happens?
How often should you update it?
