The Valley Hospital is now open at 4 Valley Health Plaza in Paramus. (You may need to use 650 Winters Avenue for GPS.) All emergency care is now being provided at this location. Emergency care is no longer available at our Ridgewood campus.
April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to educate on the importance of advance care planning and empower individuals to prepare an advance directive or living will. Having these conversations now and preparing a written plan, will make things easier for your family should a serious medical event occur.
Planning ahead for a serious illness is challenging, and it is a topic that people shy away from. It is a little like walking a tightrope. You don't plan to fall, but if you do, you want the safety net there.
Advance care planning involves documenting preferences for healthcare treatment should a serious medical event occur, and you are unable to make your own healthcare decisions.
During a health crisis, families begin to question or disagree when making healthcare decisions for their loved ones. Through advance care planning, and writing an advance directive, you will reduce the burden placed on your family by allowing them to respect your wishes.
An advance directive is a legal document that you can complete on your own that can help ensure your preferences for various medical treatments are followed if you become unable to make your own healthcare decisions. Your advance directive only goes into effect if your physician has evaluated you and determined that you are unable to understand your diagnosis, treatment options, or the possible benefits and harms of the treatment options.
There are two common advance directives: an instruction directive and a proxy. It is your decision to have both documents or just have one of them. It is possible to have both kinds on one form.
An instruction directive, also known as a living will, is a document where you can express your wishes regarding treatments you want or don’t want to receive. You can include qualifiers, or phrases, that read, “I want a trial of a treatment to see if I can get better, but I don't want specific treatments in the long term.” In a living will, you can also include a description of your beliefs, values, and general care and treatment preferences. This document will guide your physician and family if they have to make healthcare decisions for you in situations not specifically covered in your advance directive.
A proxy directive, also known as a durable power of attorney, appoints a healthcare proxy to make decisions for you when you are unable. The person that you appoint is known as your “healthcare representative,” and the individual is responsible for making the same decisions you would have made under the circumstances. If the representative is unable to determine what you would want in a specific situation, they are asked to base their decision on what they think is in your best interest.
You need to be at least 18 years of age to have an advance directive. A medical crisis can happen at any age. Making a plan for the future helps make sure you get the care you want.
For more information and for the forms, please click here.
