Don’t leave our families in the dark: April’s Health Care Decision Month urges advance care planning

It’s almost May, but April was Healthcare Decision Month in North Carolina, a time to raise awareness about planning for the future. This includes considering your wishes regarding end-of-life care, such as updating your will and care directives.

We often assume that our loved ones know what we want, but many people aren’t sure. Data shows that almost a third of people guess incorrectly about their loved ones’ end-of-life preferences.

Advance care planning is the process of making decisions about your future medical care in case you cannot speak for yourself. This will help your family act on your wishes and reduce stress for them during a difficult time.

Risa joins WRAL News to discuss this important topic Hanaua clinical and community educator with Author Care, an organization for palliative care and hospice care.

HanauWhat does advance care planning entail? Is it just filling out forms?

Hanau: It’s actually broader than documents. There are documents such as living wills, but they are only one piece. The bigger picture is having conversations – the hard ones – with loved ones, caregivers and faith leaders. This helps them understand what is important to you and what care you need if you cannot speak for yourself.

Why is this also important for healthcare providers?

Hanau: Knowing your wishes helps caregivers make difficult decisions with confidence. Research shows it can improve their mental health and reduce depression during a stressful time.

In your experience, how does advanced care planning benefit families?

Hanau: Having these conversations and completing documents is a gift to yourself and your family. Imagine it’s 3am in the emergency room. It’s a difficult situation anyway, but if your family knows your wishes, they can make decisions with confidence. That is a powerful gift.

We shouldn’t wait for a crisis to talk about this. What step can we take today?

Hanau: Start a conversation with loved ones about what is important to you. There are also many online resources, such as the Authoritas Care website and other advance care planning websites. Also involve your doctor in these conversations.