PORTLAND, Oregon — Death is inevitable. It is something we will all face one day, but it is also something that we can all plan for to ensure your wishes are honored.
Having those difficult conversations now can help you and your family in the future, and there are a few simple steps you can take to get started.
“I think it's important not to get overwhelmed and understand there are some simple things you can do. There's a place to start and then you can build from there,” said Dr. Tracy Muday, executive medical director for Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon.
Having a plan in case of serious illness or injury is a continuum, Muday said. The best place to begin is to have a designated person to make decisions for you if you’re not able to speak for yourself. In Oregon, that’s called a healthcare representative.
“In the event of an accident or any injury, it's always important to make sure somebody can represent your wishes,” she said. “In the case of an emergency, people who are caring for you may not know who that person is who most understands your wishes, so it's important to have that document to be clear on who it is.”
This type of planning falls under the umbrella of advanced care planning or advance care directive for health care.
In order to designate your healthcare representative, you’ll need to fill out a form with the Oregon Health Authority.
“You don't need a lawyer. You will need a notary, and you will need that person's permission and willingness to act on your behalf,” Muday said, “and then, it's good to designate an initial and then a backup if that person isn't available.”
During this process, take the time to think about what’s important to you in the event of a severe illness or injury.
“When those wishes aren't identified, it makes it very, very difficult,” Regence Provider Relations Executive Kassie Fisk said. “So, it's multifaceted; there's lots of emotion, and then, family members oftentimes will interpret things differently. Everybody’s got a different opinion.”
Fisk knows firsthand how important planning ahead can be for family members. Ten years ago, she and her husband found themselves on the other side of it when very quickly they were unable to communicate with a loved one because of dementia.
“The opportunity to find out what the wishes were ... it didn't happen for us. We didn't have that ability, and yet, we were caring and taking care of family members hoping that we were doing what their wishes were,” she said.
That experience sparked conversations between Fisk and her husband to make sure they had a plan in place.
“One of the reasons I really wanted to have those down is that I don't want him or someone I love to have to decide or make those decisions,” Fisk said. “I want to make those decisions now while I have the ability to do that for them. I think that's such a gift that we can give.”
Those conversations and designating a person as your healthcare representative is the first place to start. Again, it’s a continuum, and doing it now will only help you and your family in the future.
“It feels a little bit daunting, but if you just look at it as a simple planning process, it takes some of the sting out of it,” Muday said. “As you talk through these things with your family members, you might find that you have some really rich and interesting conversations.”
For more information and to take the steps to plan ahead, check out the Oregon Health Authority's guide.