Ending Life Well: Conversations & Connections
Wishes Registered are Wishes Honored
By Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry (AzHDR) at Contexture
documents (living wills, healthcare power of attorney forms, and DNRs). Advance directives help ensure that decisions are honored, and their treatment is guided by their wishes. Wishes cannot be honored if they are not shared. Ninety-two percent of Americans think it is important to discuss their end-of- life wishes, but only 32 percent have shared that information with anyone. The AzHDR wants to flip the script when it comes to talking about end-of-life care. There is no easy way to plan for future health care choices. Making decisions and plans about end-of-life and critical care should not come lightly – these are some of the biggest decisions we make in our lifetime. That is why we created the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry website. At AzHDR.org , you will find clear and helpful information, resources, and videos to guide you, as well as an easy- to-follow process for completing and registering your advance directives. The website also has an events page where you can sign up for webinars on topics related to advance care planning and completing and registering advance directives documents. In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Contexture is hosting a complimentary 5-day series of live webinars the week of April 15th. Registration information can be found at www.azhdr.org.
While events that lead to the need for an advance directive are rarely planned, you can plan ahead to ensure that you have control over your care until the very end. Wishes Registered are Wishes Honored While National Healthcare Decisions Day is a great opportunity to work on your advance directives, these documents can be done on any day of the year. PCOA is here to support you through the process, from walking you through the documents to uploading them on your behalf to the Arizona Advance Directives Registry. Call (520) 790-7262 to get connected with one of our Caregiving and End of Life Specialists.
As April 16th, National Healthcare Decisions Day nears, it is never too early to plan for your future. If you only do one thing regarding the advance care planning process, start with choosing your person. Choosing a healthcare power of attorney to make medical decisions on your behalf in the event of a serious health condition, accident, or emergency is an important step in planning ahead for your healthcare. Research shows that only 30-35 percent of Americans have created a living will. As a result, the end-of-life care they receive does not often reflect what they want. Consider that 70 percent of people say they would prefer to die at home, yet 76 percent pass away in an institution. Increasing the number of Arizonans with a registered healthcare directive will not only ensure more people get care that aligns with their wishes, but it will also provide valuable support to those making healthcare decisions on their behalf. Contexture operates the Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry (AzHDR), a platform that provides healthcare providers with seamless access to patients’ end-of-life care wishes. The registry stores advance directive
Shaaron Kent Endowment held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
Page 22 | March/April 2024, Never Too Late
Pima Council on Aging
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