News & Announcements
HPNI Promotes Planning on National Healthcare Decisions Day
April 16, 2010
With the recent passing of the healthcare bill people are confused about one of the hardest decisions that they might have to make…What do I do if I become seriously ill?
In recognition of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Hospice and Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (HPNI) hopes to remind the public about the importance of planning for healthcare and end-of-life care options.
“People need to realize that there is a choice on how you want to be cared for when you approach end-of-life,” said Julie Wright, social worker at HPNI. “We, as an agency, encourage people to plan and prepare for their goals for care and end-of-life options. It’s our job to check to see what advance directives are in place and if there are none then talk to the family to set up a plan,”
Advance directives…patient’s rights…These terms, and many others like them, have been tossed around lately due to the nation facing healthcare reform, and end-of-life care in particular. As an agency that has provided hospice and end-of-life care to patients for 28 years, HPNI has held steadfast to an opinion about the matter, noting that yes, people should be prepared and be able to choose how they wish to spend their final days or weeks of life.
It is the agency’s mission to care for those facing terminal illnesses and end of life and, in doing so, to work them to try to help the patients meet their end-of-life goals--whether it is to be able to be able to continue treatments until the very end, or to remain at home, with their pain and symptoms controlled.
“Hospice and palliative care providers are not here to serve the community with a single perspective or an emphasis for a single option, but rather to enable people to make that choice for themselves and to share that with those who care for them,” Wright added. In order to accomplish this, people should be prepared for the inevitable and plan ahead by having their wishes written down, and the whereabouts of those documents known to loved ones. Without this advanced planning, the decisions about a patient’s health care may not be what he or she wants.
“It’s really the same as making a financial will,” she said. “You’re planning for the future so that your goals and wishes are carried out for you. By having your end-of-life care goals and plans written down, you are really giving your family a gift, so they do not have to make the hard decisions.”
One of the ways the HPNI helps patients create an advance directive is to give them a form called Five Wishes. This brochure includes a variety of questions about treatment and end-of-life goals which patients then fill out according to their wishes.
“Even though we do have the Five Wishes program I still encourage patients to get power of attorney. It’s always good to have a backup,” said Wright.
Each staff member in a patient’s care team becomes familiar with their patient’s personal needs and wishes. One of the first steps patients will take is to decide who they want to make decisions for them when they can’t. Although the HPNI cannot be a health care agent (person who makes your decisions) the agency will still provide care, support and answer any questions you have about your medical history, symptoms and concerns. Wright also encourages patients to write down a second health care agent in case something happens to the first one.
Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is a not-for-profit organization serving families throughout McHenry, Lake, Northwest Cook, Kane, Boone and DuPage counties. Founded in 1982, the agency provides comprehensive end-of-life care to over 1,400 patient families each year. The organization’s palliative care program offers services for those who struggle with serious illnesses as well as pain and symptom management. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois is Medicare certified and accredited by the Joint Commission.
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