Greetings, and thank you for reading.
Many people wonder how to begin thinking about end-of-life decisions. It can start while you are living, and it doesn’t have to be complicated or depressing. Everyone has the right to make personal decisions and to express how they want to be cared for.
Talking with family and loved ones can help them understand and respect your wishes. Here are a few important topics to consider:
A. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
A DNR is a medical order about whether CPR should be attempted if your heart or breathing stops. Ask your healthcare provider how to complete the appropriate form and how to make sure it can be found when needed. Requirements and emergency-response procedures can vary, so confirm the instructions for your state and community.
B. Living Will or Advance Directive
An advance directive can record your preferences for medical care if you become unable to communicate. Depending on the form, you may be able to state your wishes about comfort and pain relief, artificial nutrition and hydration, and care in certain serious medical situations.
C. Choosing Someone to Make Medical Decisions
You may appoint a trusted person to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make or communicate them yourself. Talk with that person about your wishes and make sure they know where to find your documents.
You may also want to plan for financial decisions by appointing someone under a financial power of attorney. Medical and financial documents serve different purposes, so check what forms and signing requirements apply where you live.
Colorado note: The original draft includes specific claims about Colorado signing and notary requirements. Those should be checked before publishing; Colorado’s official advance-care-planning resources explain the available documents.
Remember: you are still living until you die. Consider gathering with your loved ones and starting these conversations so they can understand how you want to be cared for.
Thank you for reading. In Part 2, we’ll talk about emergency preparation and caring for someone at home.
Many blessings to you all.