Living Wills & Advance Directives

 Advance Directive- A written document (form) that tells what a person wants or doesn't want if he/she in the future can't make his/her wishes known about medical treatment.

Continuum Care believes in helping our patients in every way possible.  While end-of-life care and plans is not a topic that many of us are comfortable discussing, it is of utmost importance.  Who better than ourselves know what we truly want our final days to be?  Who better than ourselves know how we want our end-of-life care and treatment to be managed?

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. Advance directives center around the principles of your right to die with dignity.

We at CCI know that preparing an advance directive involves more than simply filling out a form. The time you spend thinking about the kind of care you want, or don't want, and discussing your wishes with your family and loved ones is much more meaningful than simply checking off boxes on a form. 

 Living Will

Medical Power of Attorney

·  A Living Will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life.

·  A Medical Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a person you trust as your health care agent, who is authorized to make decisions on your behalf. 

 Good advance planning for health care decisions is a continuing conversation about:

• values
• priorities
• the meaning of one's life
• quality of life

Communication Is The Key:
Studies have shown advance directive forms do little to influence end of life decisions without
informed, thoughtful reflection about your wishes and values. Personal communication between the patient and the likely decision makers before a crisis occurs.

Concepts For Talking About Health Care Issues:
How do you want to be treated?Are there treatments you want to receive or refuse?What are you afraid might happen if you can't make decisions for yourself?Do you have any fears about the medical treatments you may want to receive?What is frightening to you?What do some phrases actually mean to you?

• no heroic measures
• dying with dignity

Who defines these terms? What do they mean?

How To Select A Health Care Proxy:
There are several things to think about. Name one person to serve at a time. Choose one successor or back-up person in case the first person is not available when needed. 

As part of Continuum Care's expanded services, we can provide training on Living Wills and Advance Directives to small groups upon request.  Contact us to further discuss this service, or should you have questions.

Attached (below) are some valuable resources we are providing you to educate yourself on your choices, your rights and ultimately your decisions.

Please note: Availability in both English and Spanish on most documents.