Who Will Speak for You? Advanced Health Care Planning

Life changes in an instant. We never know when we may be involved in a serious car accident, suffer a stroke or be admitted to the hospital unexpectedly.

If you are unable to speak for yourself, do your family members and health care providers know how to proceed with your care? Do your loved ones know which treatment options you would pursue? Or, would they feel overwhelmed and unprepared to make difficult decisions? Advanced care planning is simply smart life planning—and can be one of the greatest gifts a person can ever give to loved ones.

Think about what is important to you and document your wishes in an advanced health care directive; if not for yourself, then for your loved ones. Be sure to name someone to speak for you when you can no longer speak for yourself, and talk to this person and your doctor about your wishes. You can download your state’s advance directive form, and begin the process today.

Conversations about living well and then dying well aren’t necessarily easy to have, but they are critical to the well-being of those we love. Finding a way to have this talk may bring great comfort and a special grace to those left behind. No one should be left wondering, did we do the right thing?

About Hospice of the Red River Valley
In 1981, Hospice of the Red River Valley was founded on the belief that everyone deserves access to high-quality end-of-life care. We fulfill our nonprofit mission by providing medical, emotional, personal and spiritual care, as well as grief support to our patients, their families and caregivers during a tender time in life. Our staff helps those we serve experience more meaningful moments through exceptional hospice care, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, wherever a patient calls home. The organization serves more than 40,000 square miles in North Dakota and Minnesota, including in and around Bismarck, Detroit Lakes, Devils Lake, Fargo, Fergus Falls, Grand Forks, Lisbon, Thief River Falls, Valley City and many more communities. Hospice of the Red River Valley offers round-the-clock availability via phone, prompt response times and same-day admissions, including evenings, weekends and holidays. Contact us anytime at 800-237-4629 or hrrv.org.

 

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