How MedicAlert can help with your advanced care directive
SPONSORED STORY – Advanced care planning should be a routine part of your health care, even if you’re not living with an existing medical or health condition, and, although it may be scary, it’s important to think ahead and develop a plan as you never know what will happen in the future.
MedicAlert can help with your advanced care directive (Source: Shutterstock)
Once you have your advanced care directive in place, MedicAlert can make sure your wishes are always honoured by providing healthcare professionals with 24/7 access to the document.
Heidi Jones, CEO of MedicAlert Foundation says the legally binding advanced care directive document is important as it offers the power to make clear your arrangements for your future health care and end of life planning.
She adds that studies show on average, 33 percent of older patients receive some form of end-of-life treatment that is of no benefit to them, saying that putting your wishes into a directive can take a huge burden off a loved one’s shoulders while providing you peace of mind that your wishes will be honoured in a stressful situation.
“It sets out your directions in these circumstances including your wishes and values that need to be considered before medical treatment decisions are made on your behalf.
“It provides you with the ability to be in control of your wishes and know that these will be respected, even if others need to make decisions for you,” Ms Jones says.
“Your directive contains information about situations where you may want or not want medical treatment and explains your preferences and instructions when you’re unable to communicate them for yourself.
“It can also include details of decision maker, if you’d prefer someone else to make decisions about your medical care for you.
“Your directive will not affect the care you receive while you can still communicate, as the instructions in the document will only be used when you’re no longer able to voice your decisions.
“If you or a family member creates an advanced care directive, MedicAlert membership will provide healthcare professionals with 24/7 access to your directive and give you peace of mind.
“Your personalised MedicAlert ID and other supporting products will also mention that you have an advanced care directive, so that health professionals can quickly access this important record and administer treatment according to your wishes.”
