Make your living will at free Hospice-sponsored seminar

Marie Ferran, left, an attorney for the aging, talks with Lisa Eldridge of Lazarus House Hospice about an upcoming seminar concerning living wills.

Terri Schiavo’s family had to make a series of decisions about end-of-life care that are among the most difficult any of us will ever face.

Choices about forgoing life-sustaining treatment or stopping artificial feeding force us to think carefully about goals for care, and quality of life in ways that many of us have never had to before.

Families faced with these difficult choices rely heavily on their health care providers. That’s why Lazarus House Hospice, Cookeville Regional Medical Center, and the Upper Cumberland Development District have joined to provide an opportunity for the Upper Cumberland area to learn more about advanced directives.

Together they will hold a teleconference Wednesday, April 20 called Living With Grief: Ethical Dilemmas at the End of Life. The teleconference is from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Cookeville Regional Medical Center education rooms 1 and 2.

The presentation will feature a national satellite feed from speaker Cokie Roberts and there will also be a local speaker. Lunch will be provided for free.

“I think Terri Schiavo’s case really drives home the point that advanced planning for end-of-life issues is extremely important,” said Marie Ferran, an attorney with Aging Services for the Upper Cumberland.

What are advanced directives? Advance directive is a term used to describe documents that deal with an individual’s future medical care. Typically these are documents prepared in advance, and at a time when the individual has the capacity to understand and sign the documents.

There are several types of advanced directives recognized by Tennessee law. These are: living wills, advanced care plans, durable power of attorney for health care, appointment of health care agent, and durable general power of attorney.

All of these documents can be revoked at any time. None of these documents is a DNR (do not resuscitate). A DNR is a separate form and requires a doctor’s signature.

Ferran will speak to the group explaining advanced directives. Staff from Lazarus House will be on hand to assist in preparing and notarizing your advanced directives. It is estimated less than 20 percent of Americans currently have advanced directives.

Lisa Womack, bereavement coordinator for Lazarus House Hospice, said, “We urge everyone, regardless of their age, to take this opportunity to discuss their end-of-life wishes with family members and put it in writing with advanced directives.”

Steve Mathias, executive director of Lazarus House Hospice, said, “We are happy to be involved with providing this needed service to the community. Hospice provides patient-focused care options and carries out decisions with respect for the wishes of the family and the law. This enduring focus on the patient’s wishes and the provision of interdisciplinary care are the cornerstone of hospice.”

For more information, or to reserve seating, please call 520-1705 or 800-468-4123.

Hospice officials ask you make your reservation no later than Monday, April 18 so they know how many forms and how much food to have on hand.

Living Wills

A living will lets you specify in writing what you want done in certain circumstances.

Other types of advanced care plans allow you to appoint someone as your healthcare agent, a person who will convey your wishes to medical personnel if you can’t communicate.

Making a living will or an advanced care plan does not require a lawyer.

Signing such a document doesn’t mean giving up control of your medical treatment. That’s not how they work. As long as you’re able to make and communicate your decisions, your word supersedes anything you’ve written or said to others.