Advance Directives

• Can be completed by every competent adult 18 and older.
• Should be done before a health care crisis.
• Should involve family members.
• Does address healthcare needs when the patient is unable to speak for themselves.
• Copies should be given to family members, your doctor, your lawyer, your clergyperson, and any local hospital or nursing home where you may be living.

Types of Advance Directives

• Health Care Surrogates
• Living Will
• Health Care Proxy
• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
• Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNRO)

Big Bend Hospice has partnered with Aging With Dignity to provide our patients with copies of the Five Wishes document. It addresses not only advance directives such as Health Surrogates and Living Wills but the personal, emotional and spiritual desires of the person as well.  All Big Bend Hospice patients are offered copies upon admission.

The Big Bend Hospice Speakers Bureau will provide in-depth presentations on Advance Directives to area clubs, churches, associations, or any group at no charge. Call Laurie Ward at 878-5310 to arrange for a speaker.

Resources
www.agingwithdignity.org
www.aarp.org (type advance directives in search engine)
www.hospicenet.org/html/directives.html