ADVANCE CARE PLANNING

Advance Care Planning is not a required legal document, but very important and helpful when one is approaching the end of their life. Advance Care Planning guides you through appointing someone as your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM). Your SDM will be responsible for making health care decisions on your behalf, should you become no longer able to make decisions for yourself. It’s important that you not only appoint an SDM, but that your SDM is aware of what decisions you would like made regarding your care.

The discussion between a person and their SDM concerning End of Life Care should include: how important pain control is, and what level of pain is tolerable; whether sedation in cases of agitation, respiratory distress, extreme existential or physical pain is acceptable; and how you may want possible delirium managed. Our team has extensive experience in guiding our patients through these challenging situations. We know the effective medications and know their benefits and side effects and we can equip you with this knowledge.  It is important to note that a Power of Attorney for Personal Care is different from an SDM.

Our team is able to help you through these documents and come up with an Advanced Care Plan.