Phoebe to recognize National Healthcare Decisions Day through public event

ALBANY — Many people find themselves making end-of-life decisions for their loved ones at the most emotionally wrenching time without knowing what those loved ones’ wishes are. Others will get into that stage without even knowing what an advanced directive is.

An event taking place Monday at the Albany Mall is expected to help individuals sort all that out.

In the food court of the mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Monday — which marks National Healthcare Decisions Day — social workers as well as nurses and staff from Phoebe Hospice will be on hand to provide the forms needed to make those decisions known while guiding people one-on-one through the process of how to make them.

“If they are not quite ready to complete the forms, we will have booklets to help them complete the forms when they are ready,” Jennifer Stephens, regional executive director of Phoebe Hospice, said.

The forms are a living will, which outlines an individual’s wishes regarding ventilator or feeding tube use, and the durable power of attorney for health care. The latter allows a person to name an agent to carry out their wishes should they be unable to due to an accident, acute episode, chronic illness or end-of-life situation.

The event on Monday is also planned to dispel the myths regarding such decision-making — including the misconception that an attorney has to be involved.

“You don’t have to have an attorney to execute these documents,” Stephens said. “You complete the form and keep it in a safe place. Get it to your physician and let your family know you have executed the documents and what your wishes are.

“The agent you name can be anyone. It does not have to be a family member.”

Since the power of attorney will be needed for carrying out someone else’s desires, Stephens said it is encouraged that a conversation with that individual take place ahead of time.

She said there is a very small population of people who have executed their advanced directives, a fact she has encountered first-hand due to her involvement in end-of-life care. This assumes an individual will know what the process is and how it works — rather than believing a last will and testament will cover the matter and that a financial power of attorney designate can make decisions.

“It is truly a gift for your family,” Stephens said. “The family knows ahead of time what you do or don’t want.”

On Monday, the intention is to raise awareness of what advanced directives are and the difference between the forms. The better time to do it is before hospice is needed, health care officials say.

This is the first time Phoebe Hospice has been involved in this kind of event.

“When we admit patients to Phoebe Hospice, we work with them on advanced directives, but we have never done a community event,” Stephens said. “Advanced directives are not just for hospice patients. We would like everyone to at least think about what their wishes are.

“You never know what might happen. We are hopeful (the event) will generate conversations among family and family members.”

Blood pressure checks will also be conducted at the event, which is free and open to the public. The mall is located at 2601 Dawson Road.