Dear friends,
Advance Care Directives may be a term that causes one's eyes to glaze over but before I lose you here, let me try and keep your attention long enough to explain why it is so important.
Every day, in hospitals across the country, families are struggling over whether to begin or continue life support treatment for a loved one. If your wishes were documented and clear to all, families would feel more comfortable with difficult decisions and be free to tend to their loved ones in more fulfilling ways.
At Hospice of Santa Barbara, we believe that a "death" can be a meaningful experience for loved ones, but this is less possible when there is confusion and upset about end-of-life decision making.
Having an up-to-date Advance Care Directive – a written document – is one of the best ways to ensure that your wishes will be honored and that your family will be spared this uncertainty.
Advance Care Directives answer the questions:
- “Where do I wish to die?”
- “Who do I want to be with?”
- “Under what circumstances do I wish to have life support, to be resuscitated?”
- “Who do I want to express my wishes for me if I am not able?”
These are the questions the Advance Care Directives team wants everyone to answer through conversations with loved ones. Everyone involved must understand what is important to you, particularly if you cannot speak for yourself.
Completing your Advance Care Directives is a gift to your loved ones. It will create comfort for them, as they will understand clearly what your wishes are if you cannot tell them at a critical time.
At Hospice of Santa Barbara, we are committed to helping you complete your Advance Care Directives at your earliest convenience. We have free scheduled workshops as well as one-on-one assistance to guide you through the process of filling out your document. Don't wait. Get it Done today.
Be well,
David Selberg
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