It’s important to decide ahead of time, before a crisis, who you would want to make your health care decisions and what kind of care you would want or not want. That’s the message ThedaCare is sharing for April’s National Health Care Decisions Day.
Completing advance care planning is the best way to ensure people avoid unwanted care in the event of serious illness or incapacity, said Leslie Koffke, an Advance Care Planning Social Worker with ThedaCare.
“Completing advance care planning is crucial for all adults,” Koffke said. “This process can lead to peace of mind for all involved. A serious accident or health crisis doesn’t plan ahead. But you can.”
Advance care planning documents are formal, legal documents specifically authorized by state laws that individuals complete. The documents are referenced when a person becomes seriously ill and unable to make decisions. People can revoke or change the documents at any time.
In 2017, health policy journal Health Affairs reported that only around 36% of adults had completed advance care planning. It further stated that the treatments people would choose to receive often don’t align with those they do receive at the end of life.
National Health Care Decisions Day offers an ideal time to complete the Advance Care Planning (ACP) process, Koffke said. Before doing so, people should contemplate their wishes. Then take it a step further and discuss them with loved ones.
“It is very important to speak with your loved ones about your health care goals and wishes,” Koffke said. “We want to support normalizing Advance Care Planning, which is the process of talking about and documenting your future health care wishes, and how loved ones can help honor those wishes.”
What’s at Stake
Around half of ThedaCare patients 65 older have completed an ACP, also often called an advanced directive. That percentage is much lower for younger patients.
Koffke encouraged all people 18 years of age and older to complete an ACP. That includes young adults heading off to college or into the workforce.
“It’s important to understand that parents and siblings cannot automatically make health care decisions for you,” Koffke said. “Without the proper documentation in place, parents or other family members would need to take extra steps in the event of an accident or an emergency.”
That could include hiring an attorney and going to court to get permission to make decisions. The process could take time and money, all during an already difficult period.
“Completing an advance directive is especially important for Wisconsinites, as we are not a next-of-kin state,” Koffke said. “That means your family cannot make decisions on your behalf if you lose capacity to speak for yourself, unless it is in writing.”
An ACP includes a Power of Attorney for Health Care form (POA-HC). This form allows people to identify a health care agent who will make decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated. People can also choose the kind of care they would want to receive in the event that they become unable to speak for themselves.
ACP Services Through ThedaCare
ThedaCare offers free ACP appointments with trained facilitators. These individuals will help interested parties fill out the documents and provide witnesses.
Koffke encouraged people interested in learning more or wanting to complete an ACP to:
- Schedule an appointment online at one of nine locations throughout northeast and central Wisconsin.
- Attend a free ACP class from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at Encircle Health. No registration is necessary.
- Complete an ACP without assistance. An attorney is not needed to do so.
Finally, keep the ACP conversation going, Koffke said.
“Health care wishes change throughout ages and stages of our lives,” she said. “Make sure to talk to your loved ones if your wishes change and update your POA-HC as necessary.”
