Growing up, my mom talked with me constantly about setting up a health care power of attorney and the importance of this document until I finally completed it. As a 28-year-old, I never understood the need for this document, especially being young and healthy. I thought these were forms you filled out only when you were older. Little did I know the power of advance directives, and the ability to outline exactly what YOU really want in the event of a medical emergency, car crash or other accident.
Detailed video about the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry (AzHDR) and advance directive documents in Arizona.
They say that of the five senses, smell is the one that connects us to memories. But for me, smell keeps me in the present. Hearing music, however, transports me and connects me to the past—to the joys, triumphs and bittersweet moments in my life. I remember making mixed tapes filled with songs that were meaningful to me as a young woman in the 70s and 80s. I had the “I broke up with my first love” tape, my “senior…
Life can change quickly. Conversations we thought we would have time for often go unspoken. We can maintain control if we plan ahead, think about our goals and values around our healthcare and treatment options, and communicate and document these wishes. Choosing someone who can communicate your healthcare wishes to your medical providers can ensure that even if you are not able make healthcare decisions directly, there is someone who can be your voice for decisions. It is difficult to…
The truth is that those who assist others with completing advance care directives have no higher completion rate than the public. Why is that, and why is it imperative to change that statistic? Do not be a statistic; instead, be at the forefront of advance care planning and be an example: Start with your own. Advance care planning is for everyone. Don’t perpetuate the myth that Advance Directives are for the elderly by not completing your own. It’s a myth…
