Life Wishes
Life expectancy is now 82 years for the average woman, and close to that for a man. We are living longer and — thanks to improvements in care — living and functioning longer with illness and disease. It has dramatically increased the need for each of us to plan for our life with accident, illness and disease.
It is never easy to talk about life-end issues and the specifics of a life-limiting illness. However, don't wait to guess what your parents or spouse would want — find out now. Guessing makes an already traumatic experience more so. It can create unnecessary tension between family members. In addition, not knowing puts a burden on those making the decisions.
At Yolo Hospice, we encourage people to discuss end-of-life care issues and prepare for them. The time to discuss your views about end-of-life care and to learn about available end-of-life care options is before a life–threatening illness or crisis occurs.
By preparing in advance, you can avoid some of the uncertainty and anxiety associated with not knowing what your loved ones want. We believe there are a number of steps you can take to discuss these issues now.
We have a special tool to help. "Five Wishes" is an advance-directive form that allows you to specify exactly how you want to be treated if you have an accident or life-limiting illness. It also allows you to name the person you want to make health-care decisions for you if you are unable to make them yourself. This easy-to-complete form is valid in 40 states, including California, and does not require the assistance of an attorney. It can be updated or changed at any time. "Five Wishes" is not just for seniors — it is for anyone 18 or older.
Think now about what you'll need to know for your and your family's future. The "Five Wishes" advance directive forms are available free from Yolo Hospice. We are also available to talk to a community group about the subject through our speaker's bureau.
Call Yolo Hospice at (530) 758-5566 for more information on either issue. |
