An advance directive lets you inform loved ones about your preferences for end-of-life care.
Imagine you’re seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. Would your loved ones know what kind of medical treatment you want? What kind of pain management you would prefer? It’s important to think through answers to these questions and inform your loved ones in an advance directive, a legal document that tells your physician about your preferences for end-of-life care. “It’s the greatest gift you can give to your family,” says Claire Verruni, RN, CHPN, a community health educator and certified hospice and palliative care nurse at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC).
“This way, they know they’re doing exactly what you want.” Five Wishes is a type of advance directive that’s legal in 42 states, including New Jersey. In the document, which was created by the non-profit organization Aging with Dignity, you spell out five medical, personal, emotional and spiritual wishes pertaining to end-of-life care. In the first wish, you choose a health care agent, a loved one who will make decisions for you when you’re not able to do so; in the second, you detail the kind of medical treatment you prefer; in the third, you explain the type of comfort care you’d like, such as pain management and hospice care; in the fourth, you reveal how you’d like to be treated (if you’d like to be home when you die, for instance); and in the fifth, you outline your preferences for a funeral or memorial service. The form requires signatures from two witnesses over age 18, but it doesn’t have to be notarized in New Jersey.
A must-have conversation
“The beauty of Five Wishes is that it’s a great tool for discussing end-of-life decisions,” says Verruni, who gives one-hour presentations about Five Wishes to a variety of local organizations. “A lot of families struggle when a loved one doesn’t have a conversation with anyone before he or she becomes seriously ill.” When selecting a health care agent, be sure the person you choose will agree to follow through on your wishes. “If your preferences go against his or her beliefs, it could be difficult for him or her to adhere to your wishes,” says Verruni.
Anyone over age 18 can fill out the Five Wishes form. It can be completed at any time, but it’s especially important to do so if you’ve received a life-limiting diagnosis. After you’ve filled out the form, review it every 10 years or sooner if a life circumstance changes (a divorce, a new diagnosis or a death in the family). Make sure the people who have witnessed your signature are aware of any updates.
Call 888.726.2362 to register for the Five Wishes seminar at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus on May 16 at 10 a.m.