Understanding the importance of advance directives
It's crucial to have these documents completed and easily accessible
It was the first snow of the season here in northeastern Ohio. In the past, at the first sign of those white flakes, we would spend the evening with our kids watching our favorite winter movie, “Elf.” But our kids are grown and living in other cities now, so it’s just me and my husband, Arman, who lives with Parkinson’s disease. A 6 p.m. doctor appointment meant we wouldn’t be staying home to watch “Elf” that evening; instead, we faced the wind and snow as we gingerly drove to my husband’s annual Medicare wellness visit.
It was our first experience using his new rollator walker on the ice and snow. The parking lot had not been plowed or salted yet, but thankfully, an accessible parking spot put us reasonably close to the medical building.
This annual visit differs from other doctor appointments, as it focuses on health maintenance and preventive care. No physical exam was performed; we mainly sat and talked with Arman’s primary care provider (PCP), who is not only his doctor but also an old friend of Arman’s from medical school.
Advance directive documents
We discussed Arman’s current health, Parkinson’s symptoms, medications, and his new mobility aids, as the PCP hadn’t seen Arman in person since my husband’s recent fall and hospitalization. The doctor did measure Arman’s height, weight, and blood pressure.
At the end of the visit, our PCP inquired about our advance directive planning, including a living will and healthcare power of attorney. For those unfamiliar, a living will is a legal document that outlines your medical treatment preferences. A healthcare power of attorney is a type of directive that appoints a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.
Our PCP explained the importance of having those documents uploaded to our hospital’s online patient portal. Both local hospital systems in our area use MyChart to manage electronic medical records. In the event that medical staff need to access the documents quickly, it’s best to have them readily available.
After we arrived home safely from the snowy, icy ride, I grabbed the heavy binder containing all of our estate planning documents. We had already completed both of the advance directive documents, so I scanned and uploaded them to MyChart. It was very simple.
My next step was to discuss this topic with my parents. They, too, have completed all their estate planning and revise it every few years. However, like us, they didn’t have their advance directives uploaded to their patient portal. My sisters and I decided that it was essential to discuss this with them, and they were grateful that we had brought it up. Just as I had done for myself and Arman, I scanned and uploaded their healthcare power of attorney and living will documents to their patient accounts. Check, check!
Since I don’t coordinate the daily details of healthcare for Arman’s parents, I asked his sister to take on this small project for them. Uploading documents to a medical portal can be confusing for older family members who are not accustomed to using it. My sister-in-law was happy to help make this happen.
While none of us likes to think about the need for these documents, it is a necessary part of life. Advance directives provide a clear description of a person’s healthcare wishes and preferences. This helps prevent disputes among family members about how to care for a relative and guides healthcare professionals on the level of care to provide.
With these measures in place, families can avoid unnecessary stress and potential conflict. As my husband says, “It’s always better to be proactive than reactive.”
Note: Parkinson’s News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Parkinson’s News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Parkinson’s disease.
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