The Significance of Keeping Health Care Directives Current
An advance health care directive – often called a living will – is a document in which you clearly define your health care wishes, should you be unable to speak for yourself. While most people imagine they will not need a living will until they are older and unable to articulate their own wishes, the need for an advance care directive could present at any time with a sudden accident or an unexpected illness. Therefore, maintaining an up-to-date advance directive will give you peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out.
Making plans now
BCHIP offers a free advance care planning consultation for Bucks County residents. Our team helps you walk through all the questions you should consider when developing your plan. These questions include what kind of life-sustaining medical care you would like to have and under what conditions; whether or not you want to donate your organs; what you consider an acceptable quality of life; and any other instructions from the perspective of your own personal moral or religious beliefs.
You will also need to name a medical power of attorney, also called a proxy, who will ensure that your wishes are carried out. It is important to have a second and even a third medical agent, in case the first person is unavailable and decisions must be made imminently regarding your health.
It is very important to have serious conversations with your loved ones about these issues. Choose medical proxies who agree with your wishes and whom you are confident will fulfill your advance directive as it is defined. Many people shy away from such important conversations, but once they have been broached, future discussions should be easier.
Updating your advance directive
It’s very important to review your document on a regular basis to see if it is still accurate. Some reasons to review or update include:
- An event in your life that may have changed your views on some aspect of health care or end-of-life care
- Divorce, death in the family, or other relationship changes that may require you to change your proxies
- A new diagnosis, such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia, which may require changes in your wishes regarding health care and comfort care. You must be “of sound mind” in order to make a legally binding document, so it is important to review an advance directive while one’s mental acuity is still strong
- Decline in one’s ability to live independently or deterioration of a current health condition
- It has been more than five years since you have reviewed the document
If you are changing your healthcare directive, it is best to create a new document. Then discuss the document with your proxies and loved ones again and have it notarized. Our free consultation program can help you with the process of reviewing and replacing an older directive. You can include other members of your family in the consultation. That might help you begin the conversation with them and allow you to think through the important questions regarding your future in the presence of those who love you and want the best for you. Click here to schedule your free consultation.
The Crucial Role of Vaccines for the Elderly
Vaccinations play a pivotal role in safeguarding older adults. Our ability to fight off infections and maintain our immune system declines as we age. Many of us who are elderly are also in situations where contagious conditions are easily spread. This creates situations where vaccine use is critical for older Americans to stay healthy and live fully.
Vaccines are a safe and effective way for older adults to build immunity against infectious diseases, reducing the chances of serious illness, hospitalization, and complications. Vaccines have been used for centuries and are one of medicine’s greatest success stories.
Why are Vaccines Important for Elderly Patients?
As people grow older, their immune response diminishes, leaving them more susceptible to infections and severe consequences. This makes vaccines a vital component of maintaining health and preventing diseases that can have dire implications:
- Vaccines help build immunity and protect against various preventable diseases that can be particularly severe in older age. Influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and pertussis are among the illnesses that vaccines help prevent. For elderly individuals, the consequences of these diseases can be severe, leading to hospitalization, complications, and, in some cases, even death.
- By preventing diseases through vaccination, the healthcare burden on elderly individuals and the healthcare system is significantly reduced. Vaccines not only protect the individual but also contribute to overall public health by minimizing the spread of infectious conditions within the community.
- Vaccinations that prevent or lessen the disease burden on the elderly save money for individuals and the healthcare system. Money not spent on treating preventable diseases can be saved or spent elsewhere.
- The impact of preventable diseases on the quality of life for older adults cannot be overstated. Chronic conditions resulting from infections can lead to long-term health issues, affecting independence, mobility, and overall well-being. Vaccination serves as a proactive measure to preserve and enhance the quality of life for the elderly.
It’s not just that elderly immune systems aren’t what they used to be. Other issues make older people more susceptible to contagious diseases:
- They may live with multiple people who may spread diseases, whether that’s at home with family, in assisted living facilities, or in nursing homes
- Their ongoing, chronic conditions take a toll on their health and their ability to fight infections
- Medications for these conditions may impair their immune response
- They may not get enough sleep or exercise or eat healthy food
- Because of their age or medical, financial, or family situations, they may have chronic stress and anxiety to deal with, weakening their immune system
Elderly Americans have a lot on their plates. Though many enjoy good health and stability later in life, retirement may not be the picture-perfect time described in ads for retirement planning services or 55+ housing developments. Many have low incomes, insufficient savings, substandard housing, and an obligation to care for their grandchildren. No matter their situation, the last thing older Americans need is a severe infection that may have been avoided or lessened by a vaccine.
Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Vaccines?
The elderly and their family members should consult with their healthcare professional when deciding which vaccine they should get and when. They shouldn’t rely on rumors, misinformation, and conspiracy theories spread by social media, friends, and others.
We can help out, too. Call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership at 267-291-7882 or complete our online contact form.
Trying to Quit Smoking? Use Tech
According to the CDC, smoking causes about one in five deaths in the U.S. each year, which makes it the #1 cause of preventable deaths. This includes one-third of all cancer and 90% of all lung cancer deaths, and it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The addictive nicotine in cigarettes and the many other toxic chemicals used in tobacco products damage every aspect of the smoker’s health, yet many people struggle to quit, even with this knowledge.
According to some studies, only about 5% of people are able to quit smoking without some smoking support group or quit-smoking product. At BCHIP, we provide a Quit Smoking Program that supports people trying to quit. We can also refer you to a doctor who can provide nicotine replacement therapy. Other products and technology have been developed to help people to kick the nicotine habit.
Apps
The variety of apps available to help you quit smoking is truly dizzying. As different people respond to different approaches, the apps can have very different support methods. One creates a personalized quit plan, whether you want to go slow or quit cold turkey, tracks how much money you’re saving by not smoking, and offers reward badges for success. Another takes a more “mindfulness” approach, with guided meditations to help ease the stress of quitting.
If you’re motivated by statistics, there are apps that track your decrease in usage, the number of hours added to your life, the W.H.O. indicators for improved health as you decrease smoking, and other interesting personalized statistics. The cleverly-named “Get Rich or Die” app focuses on how much money you are personally saving, while at the same time saving your life.
Other apps include a “craving timer” which reminds you of your goals as you fight off a craving.
Wearables
Wearable devices are being developed and are starting to be available in the market to help you quit smoking. Like apps, they have different approaches.
A simple item, sold as an anti-smoking, anti-vaping necklace, helps the user take relaxing, long breaths to calm anxiety. A wide variety of inhalers with aromatherapy or citrus also help calm cravings and anxiety. Though unproven, some people get relief from magnetic bracelets or from ear or hand acupressure devices.
Though not yet widely available, some other wearables are being developed, like a necklace, called Smokemon (like Pokémon), with thermal sensors that track a cigarette going to and from the mouth. This can help the smoker and a health coach track occasional slips and determine what triggers caused those slips and how to avoid them in the future. The necklace can be synced to send a text or video message to the smoker to send encouraging reminders to help the person stay on track.
Another method being developed is a tracking program in a smartwatch that can track hand-to-mouth movements indicative of smoking. Wearable cameras designed to alert the presence of cigarettes or other smoking triggers have been floated, but these carry privacy concerns.
Successfully quitting
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), nearly 70% of adults who smoke say they want to quit. Combining counseling with medication can more than double the chance of quitting successfully. Apps and wearables can enhance the benefit of counseling alone, or counseling and medication if your doctor believes medication or nicotine replacement therapy is warranted.
BCHIP offers a 5-session Quit Smoking Programboth virtually and in person, at two different locations for your convenience. Nicotine replacement therapy is available for those who qualify. Click HERE to register, or call (267) 291-7882 for more information. Smoking kills, on average, 440,000 Americans each year. That’s a really good reason to quit.
Are Vaccines Safe?
Vaccines have been a cornerstone of public health for over a century. They have saved millions of lives over that time and helped eradicate deadly diseases like smallpox and polio. Despite their remarkable success, vaccines continue to be a subject of controversy and misinformation. Here at BCHIP, we believe that Bucks County residents should have access to safe and effective vaccines.
Here are reasons why vaccines are safe.
Extensive Testing and Approval Process
Vaccines undergo an extensive and rigorous approval process before reaching the general public. This process involves multiple phases of testing to ensure both safety and efficacy. This includes preclinical testing, usually on animals. If the vaccine appears safe, it moves onto clinical testing where larger and larger groups of people use it. Their responses are studied to see if the vaccine is safe and effective.
Regulatory agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carefully review the data from clinical trials before granting approval. They assess the vaccine’s safety, efficacy, and manufacturing quality.
Ongoing Monitoring
The process doesn’t end with approval. Vaccines are continuously monitored for safety through multiple systems, such as the US Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Healthcare professionals and the public can report any adverse events related to vaccines, and this data is closely analyzed to detect any unusual patterns or safety concerns.
Thorough Manufacturing Standards
Vaccine production adheres to stringent quality control and manufacturing standards. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other regulatory bodies oversee vaccine production facilities to ensure they meet these standards. This helps guarantee that vaccines are produced consistently and safely.
Herd Immunity
Vaccines protect individuals and contribute to a concept known as herd immunity. When a large portion of a population is immune to a disease, either through vaccination or previous infection, it creates a barrier that prevents the disease from spreading quickly. This protects those who cannot be vaccinated due to age, medical conditions, or allergies.
Historical Success
Vaccines have a track record of success in preventing and eradicating diseases. Smallpox, a once-devastating disease, was completely eradicated thanks to the smallpox vaccine. Polio is nearing global eradication, and the cases of many other conditions, such as measles and rubella, have been significantly reduced.
Expert Consensus
The scientific and medical communities overwhelmingly support vaccination. Leading health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Medical Association, advocate for vaccines and endorse their safety. These organizations rely on extensive research and expertise to make their recommendations.
Adverse Events Are Rare
While vaccines can cause side effects, serious adverse events are extremely rare. Most side effects, such as soreness at the injection site or a low-grade fever, are mild and temporary. Severe adverse events occur in a tiny fraction of cases. These cases are thoroughly investigated, and the benefits of vaccination are weighed against the risks.
Because of social media and the COVID-19 outbreak, there has never been more false information and accusations about vaccine use so readily available. Vaccines are a safe, crucial tool in preventing deadly diseases and protecting our community. Your doctor is your first line of information and can help you make informed decisions about vaccine use for yourself and your family.
Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Vaccines?
If so, let’s start the conversation. Call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership at (267) 291-7882 or complete our online contact form.
Social Support Networks When You Stop Smoking
It is much harder to break the habit of smoking than it is to break an ordinary habit, such as biting your nails. Some of the same techniques may apply, such as keeping your hands busy or distracting yourself when you have an urge. But because nicotine is addictive, quitting can cause unpleasant physical and emotional side effects. This is when having a social support network becomes very important.
If you live in Bucks County, we have a smoking cessation program offered free of charge. You will learn many tips and tricks to get through difficult moments and you will receive support from our team of experts.
Nicotine stimulates the parts of the brain that release chemicals that make you feel good. When you feed your brain nicotine frequently, the nicotine changes the way your brain works, and eventually, your brain will need nicotine in order to release these feel-good chemicals. Your brain has become addicted. When you stop smoking, it can take a few weeks for your brain to return to its pre-nicotine ability to function.
Support options
During this time of withdrawal and “rewiring” of your brain, you should have a wide array of techniques to help you get past the most difficult hurdles and stay on track. At BCHIP, we offer a free Quit Smoking Program with a support system of others who are quitting with you and leaders who have been through it and have “kicked the habit.” Both in-person and virtual sessions are available for your convenience.
Besides our program, which also offers strategies for success, try to line up some allies among family and friends whom you can talk to when cravings arise and you’re struggling to stay on track. Often, your friends can help you by distracting you and reminding you of your “why” – the reason why you want to quit.
If you know someone else who wants to quit, see if he or she would like to quit with you. You could attend the BCHIP sessions together. Working together can make you both stronger. Since you’ll both know the strategies and techniques, you will be able to remind each other of them when you’re struggling and encourage each other through difficult times.
Other online support groups are available, and you can even harness technology to help you succeed. There are apps to help you quit, sending you regular supportive texts daily to encourage you. Other apps help you track your cravings, triggers, and progress. These are great stats to share with your support system, who can give you kudos for your successes and suggest strategies for getting past the rough patches.
For your convenience, BCHIP offers two online options and two in-person options in two different locations. Get started with our Quit Smoking Program, build a support team, and be ready for success in your challenge to quit smoking.
Should Vaccines Be Mandatory?
BCHIP is a pro-vaccine organization because vaccines can help you protect yourself and your family. We also believe in the intelligent and peaceful discussion of whether someone or their family should be vaccinated. Every family in Bucks County should make the best decisions for their members. The US population is very polarized on many issues, though recent polls show that most Americans want to receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
Mandatory vs. Forced Vaccination
They sound alike, but there are key differences.
A mandatory vaccination would involve the fact that you must be vaccinated to get some benefit or be able to participate in something, or you will face some kind of penalty if you’re not vaccinated. If vaccinations are mandatory, you likely need the vaccination if you want to go to work, see a movie, or have your kids attend public school. Usually, there are limits if a person has a health condition or they have a sincerely held religious belief that contradicts vaccine use.
These types of vaccinations have generally held up in US courts. Mandatory vaccinations might not violate someone’s constitutional rights, according to the National Constitution Center. The cases go back to the early 1900s and concern smallpox vaccinations.
When deciding a 1905 case in which the plaintiff claimed a Massachusetts town, by mandating vaccination and fining those who refused, was unconstitutional, the US Supreme Court ruled that states, because of their general police powers, could enact mandatory vaccine laws to protect citizens without violating their rights. States are empowered to pass laws that protect the public’s health, safety, and general welfare.
116 years later, the court decided not to take the appeal of a lower court decision ruling the University of Indiana’s mandatory vaccination program was constitutional. Eight students sued the university, claiming their constitutional rights would be violated by mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, even when exemptions for religious, ethical, and medical reasons practically guaranteed anyone seeking an exemption would get one, according to the New York Times.
On the other hand, a forced vaccination could entail physically restraining an adult and administering a vaccination, or vaccinating a child at school with their parents having no say in the matter.
If the Situation Demands It, Mandatory Vaccinations Are the Right Thing to Do
If a disease outbreak threatens enough people with severe complications or death, it’s appropriate for government and employers to mandate vaccine use, as long as there are exceptions for religious beliefs and health conditions that may make a vaccine a greater health threat than the disease. There would need to be a cataclysmic, society-threatening disease outbreak to even consider forced vaccinations.
With rights come responsibilities. If you choose not to be vaccinated, you should be mindful of others since you may spread the disease to those unable to be safely vaccinated. You should comply with restrictions meant to protect others. Just as your right to swing your fist ends at my nose, your right to do whatever you want after not being vaccinated should end if your choice endangers others’ health and safety.
For more vaccine information, call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP) at 267-291-7882 or complete our online contact form.
How to Share Your Advance Health Care Directive
Your advance health care directive, also known as a living will, tells medical professionals and your family what health care decisions you want to be made for you, should you be unable to speak for yourself. BCHIP offers a free Advance Care Planning Consultation to help you with the process of completing an advance directive or you can use our simple form with reflection guidelines to help you think through and address the most important questions that you will have to consider. Once your living will is completed, where should you keep it and who gets copies?
BCHIP’s program can assist you in the distribution of your advance directive. Suggested recipients include:
- Your physician(s)
- Hospital(s) you would be taken to
- Your healthcare agents
- Family members
Who gets your advance directive?
Your primary care physician and all other healthcare agents whose care you are under should have a copy of your advance care directive. The local hospitals where you would most likely be taken in case of an emergency should have a copy on file, as should your medical power of attorney and all named healthcare agents.
If you have a lawyer, he or she should also have a copy.
Of course, a living will is a “living” document, which means it can be updated any time you change your mind, so you may want to keep a list of those to whom you have given a copy so that you can also give them an updated copy, if necessary.
Where to keep your advance directive
Keep several copies for yourself in various places where someone might look for them.
- Keep a copy in your medical file. Your medical file is a collection of information for your medical powers of attorney to easily access. It should include a list of names of your doctors, any medical conditions you have, recent medical procedures, a list of medications you take, and any other pertinent medical information. This file will be very helpful if you are unable to answer questions about your medical history. In this file, you should also keep a copy of your advance directive / living will.
- If you have a safe at your house or a safety deposit box at a bank, put a copy in there.
- Some people will also share an online link, such as Google Drive or a more secure online document storage service, which is shared with friends and family. The advantage of an online document–which you alone should have the authority to edit–is that if you update it, all your loved ones will have access to your most recent document.
- We recommend you also keep a card in your wallet or your purse, which summarizes some of your core beliefs and tells the reader where your document can be found.
For more information or to schedule your FREE Advance Care Planning conversation with our trained facilitators, please contact Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership (BCHIP) at 267-291-7882, email ccampbell@bchip.org, or via our website www.bchip.org.
Pregnancy and Smoking
If you are pregnant and a smoker, it is important to cut back or really stop smoking as soon as possible. If you live in Bucks County, PA, you don’t have to do it alone. We offer a free smoking cessation program that gives you all of the support you need.
Why is it dangerous to smoke when you are pregnant?
Smoking while pregnant puts both you and your baby at risk of serious health effects. Every puff of a cigarette (e-cigarette, vaping product, or any tobacco product) releases harmful chemicals into your system that will impact your pregnancy and your baby. Our goal is not to scare you but to support you as you quit. We applaud you for just researching the idea, and we are here to help you with BCHIP’s free smoking cessation class. Even if you are far into your pregnancy, it’s never too late to stop. Every cigarette or tobacco product you don’t smoke is that much less toxin in your baby’s system.
Some of the risks to you from smoking during pregnancy include:
- Abnormal bleeding, placenta abruption, placenta previa
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes
- Miscarriage
- Stillbirth (smoking doubles the risk)
Smoking can even decrease fertility, reducing the chance of a woman conceiving in any given cycle by 40%. In men, smoking can damage sperm, which can mean either poor fertility or unhealthy babies, and can contribute to impotence.
Some of the risks to your baby from smoking during pregnancy include:
- Birth defects like cleft palate or cleft lip
- Heart defects
- Preterm birth, which can lead to poorly developed hearing, eyesight, lungs, heart
- Low birth weight, which often leads to additional health problems in life
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – SIDS is 22% more likely in babies whose mothers smoked while pregnant
Second-hand smoke can be detrimental to newborns as well, increasing their risk of upper respiratory infections, asthma, and ear infections.
Questions about quitting while pregnant
What if I fail?
Don’t worry. If you join a good support group, like our Quit Smoking Program, you will have the support you need to keep you on track and decrease the likelihood of giving in to the urge to smoke. But even if you do, we will be there to give you moral support and advice to help you start the quitting process again. Remember, any decrease in cigarette smoke will be healthier for you and your baby.
I’m already pregnant and stressed – I relax with a cigarette. Isn’t it better for my baby if I’m less stressed?
In our program, we help you discover de-stressing activities that will actually help you and your baby be healthier and calmer. Many people use smoking as an easy crutch to lean on. But it’s a very expensive habit, and finances are one of the biggest stressors in most people’s lives. And you will likely find, as you detox from nicotine, that smoking was actually making you feel more stressed than you realized. The calming effects are temporary, lasting only until you need another cigarette. We’ll help you find a better way to calm down.
Isn’t it too late to quit now? I’m halfway through my pregnancy.
As mentioned above, it’s never too late to quit. With every puff you don’t take, you are helping your baby grow healthy. And once your baby is born, he or she will have clean air to breathe, rather than secondhand smoke.
I already had a healthy baby while smoking. Why worry about it now?
The risks to your baby and your own health are significant. If you and your older child were fortunate enough to dodge the odds, there’s no guarantee you will again. You are older and have been smoking longer, and every baby is different. Ask yourself, too, if your older child has frequent colds, breathing issues, allergies, or other health problems that may not have been obvious at birth but have set in since. These may be the result of systems developing poorly during pregnancy.
Give your baby the best chance at a healthy start in life and protect yourself from pregnancy complications. Look into our free Quit Smoking Program here.
Is the COVID-19 Vaccine Safe for My Child?
COVID-19 vaccines are safe for children. Vaccine use by children in the US goes back more than a hundred years. This vaccine, and vaccines in general, are effective and safe ways to help keep your child and other children healthy.
Vaccines are vital tools that reduce infection and disease rates globally, according to an article in the Patient Safety in Surgery journal. Vaccination use dates back to eleventh-century China. More than 672 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given in the US from December 14, 2020, through March 1, 2023, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Before their approval, COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated in clinical trials with tens of thousands of participants. Serious safety problems are rare, and the vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks.
Can My Child Be Vaccinated?
COVID-19 vaccines for children six months and older, with boosters for those five and older, are approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the CDC, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Should My Child Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
The vaccine can prevent a COVID-19 infection and the serious illness that can come with it, including severe lung infections. A long-term COVID-19 complication you may prevent is a multisystem inflammatory syndrome which involves the inflammation of several organs.
Vaccinating your child can also help prevent the infection’s spread to other children and adults. If fewer children develop a COVID-19 infection, it reduces the chances a more dangerous and vaccine-resistant virus variant will develop.
Are There Side Effects?
The injection site may become painful. Your child may feel drowsy, tired, irritable, and have a fever. Side effects generally clear within 48 hours of the vaccination.
Is COVID-19 Vaccine Technology Safe?
Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) to trigger an immune response. Traditional vaccines use a fragment of a virus or bacteria to accomplish this. This vaccine uses a piece of a protein found in the COVID-19 virus instead. These vaccines are FDA-approved, and billions of these shots have been used worldwide.
Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Cause Heart Problems?
There are more than a thousand reports of myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and pericarditis (heart lining inflammation) after some people received COVID-19 vaccinations in the US since April 2021, according to the CDC. Most of these cases were mild and resolved on their own.
Myocarditis is a much more frequent complication of the COVID-19 infection than of the vaccine. If you’re concerned about your child getting this condition, they are likely better off being vaccinated.
Should a Child With a Pre-existing Condition Get the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Children and teens with pre-existing conditions like autoimmune diseases and diabetes or who take medications that compromise their immune system have a higher risk of complications from a COVID-19 infection, reports the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
The approved vaccines can’t cause COVID-19, even in children with weakened immune systems. If a child isn’t allergic to a vaccine ingredient, they may be vaccinated. You should discuss any concerns about a COVID-19 vaccination with your pediatrician.
Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Vaccines?
If so, let’s start the conversation. Call the Bucks County Health Improvement Partnership at 267-291-7882 or complete our online contact form.
Health Care Directives for Complex Medical Decisions
If you have a complicated medical condition or multiple health issues in Bucks County, it is very important that you create thorough advance healthcare directives. These documents spell out possible risks and the medical decisions that you would like to have made on your behalf in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.
An Advance Healthcare Directive form usually has several sections, including:
Do Your Research
Talk to your doctor and your specialists about what you can expect regarding your condition over time. Ask questions such as:
You may also want to clarify with your doctor some of the terms on the advance directive form, such as what constitutes life-sustaining medical care, whether you are a candidate for organ or tissue donation, and what comfort care might be appropriate.
For instance, “life-sustaining” can be interpreted very broadly. Food and water are life-sustaining, and oxygen is life-sustaining, but most people don’t intend that they be deprived of food, water, or oxygen. Therefore, talk to your doctor about the types of life-sustaining treatments, when they are useful, and which ones may be futile if death is otherwise imminent.
Whether you are a stroke survivor or someone with cardiac issues, diabetes, high blood pressure, or a degenerative condition such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, or severe arthritis, it is important to thoroughly research what treatments you may need in the future, communicate your wishes to your medical power of attorney, and ensure that the person you’ve chosen and any secondary or tertiary medical agents will respect your wishes. Put it in writing, sign it, and make sure your loved ones and your physicians have a copy of your wishes in order to assure that they will be carried out.
BCHIP Can Help
Visit our Advance Care Planning page for more information or download our Advance Healthcare Directive Form.
