089 – Giving Yourself (And Your Family) a Gift on National Healthcare Decisions Day
Better Health While Aging
English - April 18, 2019 13:00 - ★★★★★ - 109 ratingsMedicine Health & Fitness Science Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Dr. K shares a personal story and explains why it's so important to address advance care planning, which is meant to provide others with guidance, since most of us will at some point be unable to make our own healthcare decisions. She covers key steps to take, two free online tools that make the process much easier, common pitfalls to avoid, and much more.
In This Episode:
Dr. K shares a personal story and explains why it’s so important to take the time to talk with others and make plans to provide others with guidance, since most of us will at some point be unable to make our own healthcare decisions. She covers:
The importance of National Healthcare Decisions Day
What “advance care planning” means, and why it’s more than completing legal forms
Four key steps in advance care planning
Why it’s essential to have conversations with others, including with healthcare providers and with family
Two free online tools you can use to guide you through reflection, conversations, and completing paperwork
Five common pitfalls to avoid if possible
Five questions you can ask yourself, every April when it’s National Healthcare Decisions Day
Related Resources:
National Healthcare Decisions Day Website
Easy-to-Read Advance Directives (available for almost every state!)
List of Starter Kits (available in multiple languages and also for Alzheimer’s and related dementias)
Advance Directive for Dementia (from Barak Gaster, MD)
5 Questions to Ask Yourself on National Healthcare Decisions Day
Other BHWA articles on advance care planning and end-of-life
Never Miss an Episode! Sign up here to be notified of our latest podcast episodes by email