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While it can be a difficult conversation to broach, discussing your end-of-life wishes with your hospice care provider will bring you peace of mind. You can avoid costly services you don’t want by talking with the home health care staff and putting your needs in writing. Here are several ways to start the conversation about end-of-life care.

How to Discuss End-of-Life Wishes With Your Provider

1. Schedule an Appointment

While your immediate medical needs are the most pressing issue for the hospice caregivers, schedule an appointment to talk about your wishes. You may need to contact the office secretary to set up a palliative care appointment. Make it clear you want to talk about end-of-life arrangements so the appropriate representatives are present. Before your meeting, learn what options are available, and think about what you need for a comfortable passing.

2. Select a Health Care Proxy

HospiceIf you’re too ill to speak for yourself or would prefer a proxy, choose a family member, friend, or legal representative to talk for you. Pick someone who has in-depth knowledge of your diagnosis and your medical needs and understands your wishes. As long as your proxy is willing to attend the appointment and present your case, it’s legal. Select an alternate proxy that can take over in the event of a problem.

3. File the Necessary Legal Paperwork

A Medical Power of Attorney form and your Living Will should be completed to outline your end-of-life preferences. Your home health care provider can help you fill out the materials, or you can hire legal counsel to assist you. These documents can be filed with your state of residence to ensure your medical requests are fulfilled when the time arises.

Taking control of your end-of-life wishes ensures you receive the care and services you prefer during illness. Contact Lifetime Care in Rochester, NY, to discuss their hospice care options in nursing homes, hospitals or at home. Call (585) 214-1000 to find out more about their home elder care, and visit them online to view their locations and service offerings throughout the Finger Lakes region.

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