For most of us we try to avoid talking about death as much as we try to avoid dying. Our superstitious nature convinces us if we do not talk about it, it will not happen. So many of our families may not know what our wishes are when we are unable to answer for ourselves. No one knows when an illness or accident will render us unable to make decisions regarding our health care and our lives. Terms like living wills, power of attorney and do not resuscitate orders are not topics that we like to discuss but according to John Campbell of the Vermont Ethics Network “this needn’t be a morbid topic, it is a gift to the people who otherwise might be put in the untenable position of not knowing what your wishes are.”

The Vermont Ethics Network, the Madison Deane Initiative and the Vermont Department of Health are sponsoring a series of workshops to help people understand what Advanced Directives are, why they are important, and explaining the new Vermont Advance Directive Registry which allows hospitals and providers ready access to your Advanced Directives so your wishes can be carried out. Volunteers will be on hand to help people with this process.

For most people they start thinking about Advanced Directives when they have one of the 5-D’s according to Cambell:

• Decade- advancing birthdays make us think about our future.
• Diagnosis- when diagnosed with a terminal or chronic disease people often think about their mortality.
• Divorce-changes in personal relationships make us reflect on who will look after us.
• Deterioration- as the body starts to break down people begin to plan how they want to address their health care.
• Death- when a family member dies it starts individuals thinking about their own life and death decisions

Advanced Directives is a blanket term that includes what were the living will and the durable power of attorney. This document allows people the opportunity to express their wishes. According to Campbell this is a “way of preserving their own unique voices about choices in critical parts of their life.” More than just a list of what medical procedures they would consent to and what measures they would not want it is about the values of each individual person. Each person has to weigh the quality of their life and their chances of survival against a series of medical options. This directive will allow you to have the final word on your life and not force a loved one to have to make these agonizing decisions.

The Advanced Directive allows people to appoint an agent who can speak for you when you have no voice. This person should have a copy of your directive and know your wishes. In addition, the Advanced Directive allows you to express treatment wishes such as being tube fed, being placed on respirators and other life prolonging procedures. There is a section about organ and tissue donation and for the disposition of remains. People can pick and choose what part of the document they want to fill out; they do not have to fill out the whole form if they do not wish to. The Advanced Directive needs to be witnessed by 2 people who are not close relatives.

For many people they write their Advanced Directives and then over time they are mis-placed so when crisis happens the family and the doctors are unable to locate it so family members are faced with making tough decisions. Copies of Advanced Directives should be given to the agent, family members, doctors, and the hospital that they are most likely to receive services from. Vermont now has a database that can store them electronically. The Vermont Advance Directive Registry allows hospitals and health care providers access to your Advanced Directives so your wishes are immediately known and carried out. This secure database allows hospitals to see what you have instructed them to do and who to contact.

Signed Advanced Directives can be mailed or faxed to:

Vermont Advance Directive Registry
523 Westfield Ave
PO Box 2789
Westfield, NJ 07091-2789
FAX: 908-654-1919

The Vermont Advance Directive Registry will send you a registration ID card and labels for you license listing registry contact information. Each year the registry will contact you to see if there are any changes and if all information is up to date. Advance Directive Forms are available at http://healthvermont.gov/vadr.

Make sure your voice is heard and your wishes are followed even if you are unable to express them.

Free Advanced Directives Workshops

Vergennes- Eagles Hall
May 31 - 10-11:30am

Winooski Senior Center
June 1 - 10-11:30am

Heineberg Senior Center
June 13 - 10-11:30am

Sarah Lemnah writes on senior issues for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press.