Five years ago on March 31st, national attention was riveted as the husband and parents of Terri Schiavo waged a very public legal battle regarding who had authority to determine if she would have wanted artificial means to prolong her life. While many Americans learned about the importance of planning for critical healthcare decisions before a crisis, two-thirds of the public have not completed an advance directive.
Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care is reminding family members and friends of the ultimate magnitude of benefits by having conversations about advanced care planning. “Everyone has their wishes,” said Lola Rathbone, CEO/President of Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care. “Wishes are very simple to document, in fact we have the perfect forms for people to use. We encourage them to share with their physician and other family members.”
“Ideally these discussions begin around the kitchen table and are perhaps the most difficult conversations of our lifetimes. The emotionality associated with talking about these issues is very real and as a result, makes it easy to put off or avoid altogether. It takes a certain amount of bravery and compassion to even broach the subject with loved ones.”
“Our goal is to help make these conversations easier for families ahead of time, which brings them great comfort on every level.”
Advance Care Planning materials are free and are available at Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative, 542 Main St. in Oneonta. For more information, contact 607-432-5525.
