Monroe County Hospital & Clinics have certified Respecting Choices Facilitators to help you navigate your advance care planning journey. These conversations look differently for everyone and can be easier with someone to help guide you through the process whether it is your first time or if it has been a while since you last reviewed them. Our Facilitators have the medical knowledge to help you understand your options and advance directive documents available at no cost to you for you to put your wishes in writing.

Advance care planning is the process of making decisions about your future medical needs in the event you are unable to speak for yourself. These decisions are officially documented through forms known as advance directives, which should be shared with your loved ones and healthcare providers.

By making your plans now, you will have peace of mind knowing your family and medical providers will follow your wishes no matter what the future holds. In addition to ensuring your wishes are respected, advance care planning also saves loved ones the immense stress of having to guess your wishes in the midst of a crisis.

Part of advance care planning is creating advance directive documents. These include:

• A living will, which can be created either in the form of the Five Wishes documents or the Iowa Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (IPOST).
• A durable power of attorney for health care names the person you want to speak on your behalf if you’re unable to do so.

Some documents, such as the IPOST, are intended for a person encountering medical challenges, namely someone who is frail, elderly, has a life-threatening illness or chronic medical condition, or frequent hospitalizations. Your medical provider or one of our health coaches can help determine which advance directive documents are most appropriate for you at this time.

Adults age 18 and older should start the process of advance care planning. Completed advance directives should be revisited at least annually to accommodate for changes in health status (like a diagnosis), relationships and values.