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#Speak4me. This presentation is intended as a template Modify and/or delete slides as appropriate for your organization and community Delete this slide before use To view speaker notes and edit presentation, click 'Edit‘, then 'Edit slides' . Who Will Speak4me?. www.CaringInfo.org/Speak4me.
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#Speak4me • This presentation is intended as a template • Modify and/or delete slides as appropriate for your organization and community • Delete this slide before use • To view speaker notes and edit presentation, click 'Edit‘, then 'Edit slides'
Who Will Speak4me? www.CaringInfo.org/Speak4me
Why is it Important to Name Someone to Speak4me? • If you are unable to express your healthcare decisions • This can happen to anyone - at any age • If you: • Are in an accident • Have surgery • Or are suddenly ill
What is a Healthcare Agent? • The person you pick to make decisions about medical care • The person is authorized to speak for you ONLY if you are unable to make your own medical decisions
But I Don’t Even Know What Decisions I Would Make • Focus on how you’d want the decisions to be made • Some considerations: • Likelihood of recovery to full or partial functioning • Whether or not you’d want to be incapacitated for a “long time” • Religious beliefs • The risks of treatments • Your overall health at the time the decisions are being made
Four Quick Tips to Speak4me • Select a person (and a backup) to be your healthcare agent • Talk to your agent and others about your wishes • Complete your healthcare agent document • Give signed copies to your agent(s), family, doctors, etc.
1. Select a Person to Be Your Healthcare Agent • Someone who… • Knows you well • Is calm in a crisis • Is not afraid to ask questions and advocate to doctors • Can reassure and communicate with your family • Understands how you would make the decisions if you were able
2. Talk to Your Agent and Others About Your Wishes • Explain what you are asking • Someone who can Speak4me in a healthcare crisis, know my wishes and advocate for them, communicate with family • Talk about why you picked them • Share common beliefs/values, knows you well, believe they can do it • Ask if they would be willing and able to make the decisions • Based on HOW YOU would want them made
But What Should I Say? • Tell them you have a favor that you hope you’ll never need them to do • Explain what you are asking – what a healthcare agent does • Find out if they have ever thought about care decisions at the end of life • Explain how you’d want the decisions to be made
When Should I Say it? • Find a quiet time and place • Opportunities to begin a conversation: • At family gatherings such as holidays, funerals, or simply around the dinner table • After a relevant newspaper or magazine article • Around a movie, book or TV show theme • Sermons • During financial planning or a medical checkup • Conversations about end of life should be ongoing and not a one time event!
3. Complete Your Healthcare Agent Document • Complete the legal Medical Power of Attorney form (also called): • “health care proxy or agent” • “health care surrogate” • “durable power of attorney for health care” • www.CaringInfo.org/AdvanceDirectives
Make Sure Your Document is Legally Valid in Your State • Download the document for your state and follow the instructions • You can complete both the living will and healthcare agent parts of the document—or simply name your healthcare agent
4. Give Signed Copies to Your Agent(s), Family, etc • Give one to your healthcare agent, backup agent, family, roommates, friends, neighbors, doctor, etc • Ask them to review it with you and be prepared to answer any questions they may have • If someone asks “why didn’t you pick me?” explain your process
FREE Resources Available from Caring Connections • State-specific advance directives • www.CaringInfo.org/Speak4me • Brochures: • Conversations Before the Crisis • Ask Tough Questions • End-of-Life Decisions • Communicating End-of-Life Wishes • You Have Filled Out Your Advance Directive… Now What?
