Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 26

Q

What if I Don't
Designate a
Decision Maker?

Q

How Should My Wishes
Be Carried Out?

You don't have to choose someone to make
decisions for you. In that case, if you're
unable to make medical decisions for yourself, your state likely has a plan in place-
called a "natural order of priority"-that
outlines who is called upon. But that outcome can be undesirable for two reasons:
The person named to make decisions for
you might not be the person you would
choose, and that person might be forced
to make diﬃcult decisions quickly without
knowing what you would want.

Your living will outlines the type
of care you would like if you couldn't make
decisions on your own. "It's about making sure you're given a voice to talk when
you can no longer use your own," Banach
says. Your doctor can help you decide what
to include.

TACKLING THE TALK
Some families manage end-of-life care by
planning conversations matter-of-factly.
But for others, these conversations
prove challenging.
Discomfort is natural, but Chuck
Christie, director of Gwinnett Medical
Center's chaplaincy program, notes that
advance care planning grows out of a
person's or family's values about life and
relationships. This discussion should be
in the context of care for one another.
Do not wait for a health crisis or
a surgery, when stress is already high,
to have advance care conversations.
Have the discussions when the family is
gathered for a birthday or Thanksgiving.
Throughout the discussion, stay focused

26

WI NT ER 2017

on care and honoring one another's
wishes and desires.
Christie says advance care planning
comes down to a few key questions
and steps:
1. Who do you want to make health
care decisions for you?
2. What kind of medical care would
you want at the end of your life?
3. Discuss these preferences with
your family.
4. Document your preferences.
While advance care discussions can be
diﬃcult, families who come to end-of-life
situations with clear wishes and documents
in hand invariably experience it as a gift.
A time that might be fraught with turmoil,

guessing what should be done, can become
sacred as loved ones draw together around
their care for one another.

WEBSITE

Healing to
Wholeness
Faith Community Nursing is
an important part of the compassionate care GMC is known
for. Learn more at gwinnett
medicalcenter.org/fcn.

http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/fcn http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/fcn

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center

Contents
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover1
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover2
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Contents
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Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover3
Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Gwinnett Medical Center - Cover4
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