Carson City, NV April 15, 2024
Making decisions for a loved one who is unable to do so for themselves can be agonizing, but advance planning and understanding of a loved one’s wishes can bring peace of mind.
To encourage people to address this difficult issue, National Healthcare Decisions Day is recognized each year on April 16. In Nevada, the state Advisory Council on Palliative Care and Quality of Life is encouraging residents to think about their personal wishes for their health care, particularly at the end of life, with the goal of getting people to plan, document those plans and let loved ones know their wishes.
“This is an incredibly difficult topic for many people,” said Kim Anderson-Mackey, the current chair of the council. “I’ve worked with patients facing the end of life for many years and can tell you that planning for this time in life greatly eases the situation for both the patient and their family.”
Advance care planning includes completing an advance directive, or living will, and appointing a health care power of attorney to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to speak for yourself.
The Nevada Advisory Council on Palliative Care and Quality of Life was created by the Legislature in 2017, in part to encourage patients to initiate or review their wishes for care in serious illness with their health care providers and to consider who would speak for them if they are unable to speak for themselves with the goal of completing the written documentation to formalize those choices. Nevada health care providers and facilities are encouraged to use Healthcare Decisions Day as an opportunity to pause and think about their patients’ health care wishes and to take action to make sure those wishes are known, even if patients are unable to direct their own care.
“I have seen an end-of-life decision tear apart families because they are already stressed while trying to care for a sick loved one,” Anderson-Mackey said. “It takes away a huge burden when people make decisions early and away from the crushing emotions surrounding the death of a parent or even a child.”
The Palliative Care Council has compiled a list of resources below for additional information on this important topic.
The council is currently planning its third Palliative Care Day for medical professionals. This educational event will be held in November in both northern and southern Nevada to give doctors, nurses and others a chance to learn about this important issue for their patients.