Celebrated every April 16, the National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is an annual initiative founded by healthcare attorney Nathan Kottkamp. Managed by The Conversation Project, the NHDD’s founding resulted in over one million healthcare providers and over half a million members of the public receiving education about advance directives within its first three years. Within the same period, over 14,000 advanced directives were also completed.
Today, the NHDD continues to educate individuals and healthcare professionals about the vital process of advance care planning (ACP).
But why exactly is the NHDD promoting ACP? How does ACP even benefit people, including seniors?
The caring team at Hidden Meadows on the Ridge, our senior living community in Sellersville, PA, has answered those questions in this guide, so please read on.
Why the National Healthcare Decisions Day Promotes Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is a voluntary, individualized process that often includes a living will and a medical or healthcare power of attorney. It involves a person documenting and discussing with their healthcare providers and loved ones their needs and preferences regarding:
- Healthcare
- Personal care
- Medical treatment
NHDD promotes and spreads awareness about ACP because, through it, individuals can ensure their doctors and family members will respect their wishes regarding the above if they lose the ability to make the decisions themselves.
On the other hand, a lack of advance care planning can result in a tragedy for everyone involved.
Complications for Family Members
Family members may have to grapple with the anguish and grief of having a loved one suddenly incapacitated and often unable to communicate. On top of that, they’d have to figure out:
- Who must make healthcare and, usually, end-of-life decisions on behalf of their incapacitated loved ones
- What such choices should be
- Whether their decisions are correct and ethical
Problems for the Patient
People who become too ill or get into an accident and can no longer communicate are at risk of having:
- Health and medical decisions made for them by someone else
- Choices being against their wishes
- Little to no control over end-of-life care
Challenges Faced by Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers also face challenges when their patients lack advance care planning. For example, they may:
- Be unable to honor their patients’ medical or personal care needs (e.g., the patient has left little to no information on these matters)
- Face ethical dilemmas (e.g., the patient didn’t provide clear guidance about continuing or stopping life-sustaining treatments)
- Have their morals and values challenged (e.g., the patient’s family makes decisions not aligned with their professional advice)
The Benefits of Advance Senior Healthcare Planning
Advance care planning benefits seniors and their loved ones by helping minimize confusion and uncertainty regarding health and personal care decisions. It can also significantly improve situations where patients can no longer speak for themselves.
Here are some of the top benefits of ACP (and the reasons the National Healthcare Decisions Day promotes it).
Patient Autonomy
With advance care planning, seniors remain in control of their future health and personal care decisions, even if:
- Something happens to them
- They can no longer communicate
- They can no longer make sound decisions for themselves
An example is when an older adult suffers from aphasia. It’s a communication disorder often caused by cerebrovascular diseases.
According to the National Library of Medicine, aphasia affects one in every 272 Americans, with a third resulting from cerebrovascular accidents, such as stroke. It’s more common among older adults; seniors 85 and older have a 43% chance of developing it.
Another example is dementia, a progressive condition that damages the brain and impairs a person’s ability to make decisions for themselves. It’s highly prevalent, and according to SciTechDaily.com, over four in ten Americans 55 and older are at risk of developing it.
With an advance directive, seniors who develop such conditions will have their wishes regarding care and treatment followed and honored.
Avoid Unwanted Treatments
Some seniors may prefer not to undergo life-extending treatments because:
- They want to focus on the overall quality of their remaining years rather than extending their lifespan
- They anticipate a decline in their physical or cognitive abilities, which could worsen if they keep undergoing treatment
- They don’t want to endure prolonged illness, pain, and the complete loss of independence
- They want a natural death, believing it is a more peaceful, dignified way to pass on
- They don’t want to burden their families with prolonged care responsibilities and costs
Without an advance directive, though, seniors may not have those wishes honored or respected if something makes them unable to communicate. For this reason, older adults (and everyone!) should consider establishing a living will and healthcare power of attorney ASAP.
Minimize Burden on Loved Ones
When aging parents or family members lack advance directives, their families can experience conflicts and disagreements. The lack of clarity and guidance can cloud judgments, especially when emotions run high.
For example, suppose an older adult’s mild cognitive impairment progresses into Alzheimer’s disease. However, before they had AD, their wish was not to impose upon their children by moving to a memory care community. Unfortunately, they failed to establish an advanced directive.
The above could result in the children fighting over whether to look after their incapacitated parent at home. After all, they’re unaware their loved one simply wants to live in a memory care community in such a situation. All these fights and emotional strains can cause significant distress, something that advance care planning can prevent.
Plan Today and Worry Less About Tomorrow
As the U.S. celebrates National Healthcare Decisions Day this April 16, it’s time for older adults who have yet to create an advanced directive to join. If that includes you or an aging parent, now is the best time to chat with the entire family and healthcare team. Express your preferences for future health and personal care choices and have them written, as doing so can benefit everyone.
If you wish to move to a beautiful, loving personal or memory care community, we encourage you to visit Hidden Meadows on the Ridge. Our senior living community in Sellersville, PA, offers high-quality, maintenance-free living. We’re proud of our round-the-clock, compassionate personal care and amenities, including chef-prepared dining, wellness programs, fitness classes, and more.
Call us today so we can give you a tour of our community!
