I often hear people say that they have their affairs in order and that they’ve talked with their families about how to carry out their end-of-life wishes. Yet according to research done by The Conversation Project, 90 percent of people say that that talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important, yet only 27 percent have actually done so. Similarly, 80 percent of people say that if seriously ill, they would want to talk to their doctor about end-of-life care, but only seven percent report having had an end-of-life conversation with their doctor.
Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to speak at a meeting sponsored by Jewish Family Service in Park City to discuss Cambia Health Foundation’s partnership with The Conversation Project. Recently I spoke at a similar event, the End of Life Care Summit sponsored by HealthInsight. Both of these events focused on advance care planning, end-of-life care, and ways that people can start having conversations around these topics with their families. I was very excited to participate in two sessions that included over 100 people made up mostly of physicians, clinicians, social workers and people from the local community who all want to learn more about how to start end-of-life conversations. The discussion was appropriate considering National Healthcare Decisions Day was last week.
We all know that these conversations are difficult, but it’s recommended by experts that we have these discussions when we’re young and healthy, as opposed to after an illness strikes. While there are many steps that are recommended when going through this process, one area of particular interest involves selecting a proxy. A proxy is someone who will serve as a voice for you should you be unable to communicate your wishes.
The Conversation Project offers help for anyone who is looking for guidance when selecting a proxy. You can read more How to Choose a Health Care Proxy and How to Be a Health Care Proxy. Here are three tips to help you as you select a health care proxy:
At Cambia Health Foundation, we work with organizations like The Conversation Project that are having a direct impact on individuals and families in their community. Not only is this program helping people with advance care planning and gaining a better understanding about palliative care, it’s helping to transform the way people look at caring for people with serious illness.
Earlier this month I was fortunate enough to speak at a meeting sponsored by Jewish Family Service in Park City to discuss Cambia Health Foundation’s partnership with The Conversation Project. Recently I spoke at a similar event, the End of Life Care Summit sponsored by HealthInsight. Both of these events focused on advance care planning, end-of-life care, and ways that people can start having conversations around these topics with their families. I was very excited to participate in two sessions that included over 100 people made up mostly of physicians, clinicians, social workers and people from the local community who all want to learn more about how to start end-of-life conversations. The discussion was appropriate considering National Healthcare Decisions Day was last week.
We all know that these conversations are difficult, but it’s recommended by experts that we have these discussions when we’re young and healthy, as opposed to after an illness strikes. While there are many steps that are recommended when going through this process, one area of particular interest involves selecting a proxy. A proxy is someone who will serve as a voice for you should you be unable to communicate your wishes.
The Conversation Project offers help for anyone who is looking for guidance when selecting a proxy. You can read more How to Choose a Health Care Proxy and How to Be a Health Care Proxy. Here are three tips to help you as you select a health care proxy:
- Choose someone who won’t be intimidated by an emergency or intensive care setting
- Pick a person who has experience that will help in a crisis situation. While this doesn’t have to include a medical background, a proxy should be comfortable asking questions and making tough decisions
- Appoint someone who lives reasonably nearby to be your primary proxy. They may have to spend a lot of time at the hospital to be easily accessible to your medical team
At Cambia Health Foundation, we work with organizations like The Conversation Project that are having a direct impact on individuals and families in their community. Not only is this program helping people with advance care planning and gaining a better understanding about palliative care, it’s helping to transform the way people look at caring for people with serious illness.