The Importance of Speaking Up About Healthcare Decisions

No matter our health circumstances or age, we each have a say in our health care and should speak up. Planning for the unexpected can ensure that our wishes, or those of our loved ones, are honored in the event of a health crisis and being unable to speak for ourselves. April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day that highlights the importance of having conversations around advance care planning.

“Advance care planning allows you to share with family, friends and your healthcare team what you consider quality of life and your wishes regarding life prolonging treatments if you encounter a serious or terminal illness,” explains Bayhealth Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist Robin Maracle, AGCNS-BC. “The goal is to ensure that your wishes are met, and also to give your medical decision-makers guidance about your wishes".

Maracle notes that resources such as The Conversation Project, an initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, can help individuals have these important conversations. According to their 2018 survey, 92% of Americans say it’s important to discuss their wishes for end-of-life care, yet only 32% have had such a conversation. National Healthcare Decisions Day was founded in 2008 to raise awareness of this topic and to point people to simple and free information to guide them in advance care planning. With origins based on the Benjamin Franklin quote, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes,” it reminds us that the day after taxes are due, we should review our healthcare wishes, as these may change over time.

Maracle shares five tips for discussing advance care planning with the important people in your life.

1. You don’t have to talk about everything or talk to everyone in the first conversation. In fact, we suggest you keep talking over time.
2. Be patient. Some people are nervous or may need time to get ready to talk. Every time you start a conversation, it helps you come closer to making your wishes fully known. Keep trying.
3. Try to focus on how you want to live. Ensure that your friends and family know what you consider quality of life.
4. While completing advance directives such as a living will, remember that as long as you are of sound mind, you can always change your mind.
5. These conversations and the documentation will hopefully make a difficult situation a bit easier, as your decision-makers will be confident that they know your wishes.

Visit Bayhealth.org/Advance-Care for more information. For assistance in taking steps to formalize your healthcare wishes, speak with your primary care physician or contact the Bayhealth Palliative Care team at 302-608-5299.