Holidays often provide a unique opportunity for families and close friends to gather together. During these gatherings, a common tradition is to share out loud the many blessings for which we are thankful. Typically, being thankful for family and friends is top of the list, with thanks for good health often close behind.
While sharing these blessings with your loved ones, this is a perfect opportunity to ask them to understand and support your wishes in terms of medical care down the road. Death comes to us all eventually, and sometimes it is a gradual process. For many, we may not be able to express what we wish to have done, and what we wish not to have done, if we are unable to communicate due to a stroke, dementia, traumatic brain injury or other conditions.
Please consider taking the opportunity over the holidays, starting with Thanksgiving, to express your wishes in case you are not be able to speak for yourself. Explain what makes your life meaningful to you. Share how you would view continued life in the absence of those elements you hold most dear. Tell what you fear the most. Most importantly, ask your loved ones for their support.
Have that conversation now while you can. Then, document these decisions as advance directives. The Community Health Action Coalition is facilitating this process through its “My Life: Deciding in Advance” initiative. You can complete a living will and a durable medical power of attorney using Colorado state forms. The person you identify as having medical power of attorney will act on your behalf and must be able to honor your wishes. You can work with your health care provider to document other wishes, including your resuscitation instructions and medical orders for scope of treatment. These four forms can all be downloaded at www.chaclaplata.org.
Then share these documents with your loved ones. You will sleep better having done this, and at some future date, your family and friends will be thankful you did.
Bob Cox, CHAC board
Durango
