by Sharon Beattie
We all go through it at one time or other: Planning for the end of life. It’s not an easy subject to discuss with loved ones or close friends, but we all know that planning ahead for this life event will save challenges for those left behind.
We sat down with Sharon Beattie, Director of Hospice Clinical Operations for VNA California to discuss Planning for the End of Life.
What are common mistakes people make when planning their own or a relative’s end of life care?
The most common mistake that people make is not to talk about it. In the United States, we find death an unpleasant topic and tend to avoid it at all costs. This leaves room for misconceptions and miscommunication. When we talk with our families about our wishes for end of life care, we have a better chance for them to be carried out.
Can you provide a checklist of what those planning end of life care should do?
- 1.Choose a person to designate as the durable power of attorney for healthcareDiscuss your wishes with them and make sure they are willing to follow them.
- 2.Put your wishes down onIt can be a formal document like an advanced directive, living will, etc., or just written in free form.
- 3.Discuss your wishes with your physician and together fill out a POLST form.
- 4.Explore your options forRead insurance policies to see what type of care might be included.
- 5.If hospice becomes an option, interview at least two or three to get an idea of which hospice might be best suited for you.
- 6.Have family discussions about everyone’s wishes for end of life care.
What resources exist to help people educate themselves about how to go about planning their own or a relative’s end of life care?
There are some good tools to assist people with end of life decision making. A couple of booklets that can be helpful are “The Five Wishes” and “Hard Choices for Loving People.”
The California Hospice and Palliative Care Association (www.calhospice.org) and the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (www.nhpco.org) are both good resources for end of life care.
Sharon Beattie is Director of Hospice Clinical Operations for the Visiting Nurse Association California. VNA California is a non-profit one of the oldest providers of in-home skilled nursing, rehabilitative, palliative and hospice services in Southern California. For more information, contact VNACalifornia.org or 1-855-VNA-CA11.