Community Outreach

Empowering Health Care Decision Making through Public Education

According to the Stanford School of Medicine, studies have shown that approximately 80% of Americans would prefer to die at home. Despite this, 60% of Americans die in hospitals, 20% in nursing homes and only 20% at home. In order to achieve your desired health care goals at the end of life it is recommended you discuss what matters most to you with close friends and family members before one experiences a significant health decline. In addition to tough conversations, it is imperative you complete legally binding documents which express your wishes as well as designate a health care proxy in the event you can no longer make these decisions for yourself.

We are here to help you! Barnabas Health Hospice offers free public education workshops for Advanced Care Planning. After providing a brief overview of common documents associated with estate planning such as a power of attorney, a health care proxy and a funeral agent, we provide free resources to help you get started. During these informative workshops, the presenter explores the nationally recognized advanced care planning booklet called 5 Wishes. This user-friendly resource is legally binding in New Jersey as well as 41 other states including the District of Columbia. It walks individuals through the process of identifying what their wishes would be when approaching the end of life. It encourages the designating of a trust-worthy person to act as their health care proxy in the event the person can no longer speak for himself or herself. Lastly, 5 Wishes asks one to detail how he or she would like to be remembered.

Also provided and explained is a blank POLST form (Practitioner Order for Life Sustaining Treatment) which was adopted by the State of New Jersey in 2011. This document is for individuals who have been diagnosed with a serious illness, who are managing multiple chronic conditions and the elderly. There are six sections which explore various life sustaining treatment options, identifies goals of care in collaboration with your health care provider, and designates a health care proxy. A physician or nurse practitioner completes this form with you and after it is completed, becomes a medical order recognized throughout the state and in various health care settings.

Attendees leave the workshop feeling empowered to make health care decisions on their own behalf and encourages family members to do the same.

If you are interested in hosting a one-hour Advance Care Planning workshop in your area, please contact Megan Knight, Director of Development & Community Outreach at Barnabas Health Hospice at (973) 370-8134 or email her at megan.knight@vnahg.org.

For more information about the 5 Wishes booklet visit: www.fivewishes.org

For more information about the POLST form visit: https://www.state.nj.us/health/advancedirective/polst/