By Laurie St. John

In hospice, we are often called to assist patients and families in the process of making end-of-life decisions.

Unfortunately, this often occurs after the patients are cognitively able to share their wishes. Families often have a difficult time when they are called to come up with a plan quickly without input from their loved ones.

Family members cannot always agree on treatment options. As a hospice professional, I always encourage people to talk about “End of Life” with family members and select a Healthcare Representative to act as a spokesperson for any medical decisions. This often opens the door to discussions as to what is important to our loved ones and the initiation of Advanced Directives.

Advance Directives in Connecticut have two parts:

Selecting a health care representative: A health care representative is a person whom you authorize in writing to make any and all health care decisions on your behalf including the decision whether to withhold or withdraw life support systems. A health care representative does not act unless you are unable to make or communicate your decisions about your medical care.

Initiating a living will: A living will is a document that states your wishes regarding any kind of health care you may receive. Should you be in a terminal condition or permanently unconscious, the living will can also tell your physician whether you want “life support systems” to keep you alive or whether you do not want to receive such treatment, even if the result is your death. A living will goes into effect only when you are unable to make or communicate your decisions about your medical care.

Starting the conversation about end-of-life decisions is important, but difficult. Laurie St John is among the guests on this HealthCare Matters podcast on how and when to start “the conversation” (hint: it’s sooner than you think):

Learn more about advanced directives and end-of-life decisions in this Q & A.

Information from the State of Connecticut on advance directives may be found here.

For more information about hospice, click here.

Laurie St. John is interim vice president of the Hartford Healthcare Community Network.