What if a sudden illness or injury left you unable to make your own medical decisions?
Who do you want to make decisions on your behalf?
Do they know your values, goals and preferences?
Advance Care Planning Workshop
Please join us for a free Honoring Choices® workshop to help you and your family with advance care planning. We will focus on experiences, “living well”, choosing a healthcare agent and what medical decisions would need to be made in the event of a serious sudden illness or accident. Family members are welcome and encouraged to come. You will have the opportunity to share and hear from others as well as ask questions as we walk through the advance care planning document together.
This workshop is offered virtually so you can participate from the comfort and safety of your home or office using your computer or smart phone. If you don’t have a computer or smart phone, you can also participate by calling into the workshop. For questions or to request an individual session with a trained facilitator, call 425-317-4654.
Commonly Asked Questions
How do I get started?
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Once you choose an advocate, it might be easiest to think first about what you don’t want for yourself. You can build and think through it over time.
Isn’t this for sick or elderly people?
Advance care planning is for everyone. Car accidents, crises and sudden illnesses can happen to anyone at any time. Every adult should have an advance care plan.
Advance care planning is for everyone. Car accidents, crises and sudden illnesses can happen to anyone at any time. Every adult should have an advance care plan.
Do I need a lawyer for this?
No. Any person can complete an advance directive, and conversations can happen in whatever time and place you’re comfortable.
No. Any person can complete an advance directive, and conversations can happen in whatever time and place you’re comfortable.
Can I change this? What if I change my mind?
Your plan is flexible and can change at any time. Revisit your plan with any life event. Remember that your plan only takes effect if you can’t speak for yourself. Until then, you’ll make all your decisions for yourself.
Your plan is flexible and can change at any time. Revisit your plan with any life event. Remember that your plan only takes effect if you can’t speak for yourself. Until then, you’ll make all your decisions for yourself.
Do advance directive work in every state?
Doctors will typically honor an advance directive across state lines. If you move, it’s a good idea to create a document in your new home state.
Doctors will typically honor an advance directive across state lines. If you move, it’s a good idea to create a document in your new home state.
What is a healthcare agent?
A health care agent is a person you identify to make your health care decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. In Washington, a health care agent must act in “good faith” for the other person. “Good faith” means that the health care agent makes decisions that you would want or are in your best interest.
A health care agent is a person you identify to make your health care decisions for you if you are unable to make them for yourself. In Washington, a health care agent must act in “good faith” for the other person. “Good faith” means that the health care agent makes decisions that you would want or are in your best interest.
What if I develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia?
Many people have clear ideas about the medical care they would want if they were to develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Standard advance directives don’t usually cover dementia. Yet dementia is the number one reason people lose the ability to guide their own care. We recommend visiting dementia-directive.org to learn more and to access a free advance directive for dementia.
Many people have clear ideas about the medical care they would want if they were to develop Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Standard advance directives don’t usually cover dementia. Yet dementia is the number one reason people lose the ability to guide their own care. We recommend visiting dementia-directive.org to learn more and to access a free advance directive for dementia.
Once signs of cognitive impairment have already appeared, it can be difficult for someone to complete a Dementia Directive. So it’s best for everyone to be given the chance to fill one out, before they develop dementia. This is especially important for people over age 60. If you fill it out before age 60, make sure to make a reminder to yourself to review your answers when you get into your 60’s or 70’s, and to fill out a new form at that time to best reflect your more up to date wishes.
What is a POLST Form
The POLST form is a set of medical orders, similar to the do-not resuscitate (allow natural death) order. POLST is not an advance directive. POLST does not substitute for naming a health care agent or durable power of attorney for health care. A POLST form is not for everyone. Learn more https://wsma.org/POLST
The POLST form is a set of medical orders, similar to the do-not resuscitate (allow natural death) order. POLST is not an advance directive. POLST does not substitute for naming a health care agent or durable power of attorney for health care. A POLST form is not for everyone. Learn more https://wsma.org/POLST
