Having "Those Conversations" Is A Priceless Gift

Sep 15

Choosing a health care agent and completing an advance directive (Health Care Power of Attorney) is hard enough.

Initiating these conversations with family members and finalizing this document often raises eyebrows, elicits dismissive statements and creates a lot of procrastination.

I recognize the enormity and scariness of embarking on the advance care planning (ACP) path, both as a professional and a 52-year-old woman.

I also recognize the relief of communicating my wishes to my loved ones and the release of hard decisions my family may be faced with making for me in the future.

The gift of self-determination is priceless.

The ability to make my own decisions is empowering and provides me with the opportunity to think about, talk about, and write down those health care decisions that will impact me if I am ever in a situation of being unable to speak for myself.

As an Oncology and Palliative Social Worker, I embrace opportunities to educate patients and their families/caregivers about the importance of advance care planning and assist them with conversations and document completion.

This is a process that engages others and creates ongoing dialogue around one’s quality of life, values, and decision making.

The recommendation is to complete an advance directive (Health Care Power of Attorney) at 18 years of age and to update this document as events, age, and medical issues arise.

Despite recent gains in public awareness of the need for advance care planning, studies indicate that most Americans have not exercised their right to make decisions about their health care if they cannot speak for themselves. Though most people recognize the importance of advance care planning, very few have taken the steps to communicate and document their future health care wishes.

Normalizing ACP conversations and documentation is essential to understanding that we all have the right to have the last word.

Elizabeth Robinson, LISW-CP, APHSW-C, is an Oncology Social Worker with Charleston Oncology in Charleston, South Carolina.