Advanced Directives...Is It Time?

As the Sr. Gerontology Specialist for Visiting Angels, a homecare agency in the County, I have been privileged to meet thousands of people and families at different stages in life’s journey.  Some have been recovering from surgery, some requiring short-term care, others long-term care and still others who are nearing the end of their journey as they currently know it.  Each level of care brings with it different challenges.  In this age, where modern medicine can do more to prolong life and ease suffering than at any other time in history, families face end of life issues from different perspectives than ever before.

While birth and death continue to be the most intimate of times, perhaps it has never been more difficult for families to decide when medicine has done all that it should.  It has always been a delicate balance to weigh the quality of life against longevity.  Modern medicine can often grant longevity and sometimes enhance the quality of life.  For some families, the choices are not easy ones.  For some, the choices are not clear-cut choices.

As a youth-oriented society we have become conditioned to believe we must do everything possible to prolong the life of a loved one.  This is an area where all of us should give considerable thought to our own wishes and desires regarding our own lives and deaths.  The greatest gifts we can give those we love are clear directives regarding our wishes.  When our wishes are known to those we love we relieve our families of heart-wrenching decisions. 

Each day we make decisions regarding our life journeys. While none of us knows the exact hour of our death, in many instances, we can make decisions regarding end-of-life issues. It is prudent to make these decisions while we are able.  It is imperative that we have honest conversations with those we love about our choices.  Once decisions have been made and family has been informed, we must put advanced directives in place to insure compliance with our wishes.  This could be the final thing we do for those we love and those who love us.