LeAne Austin, RN, EOLD, NEDA Proficient

Wing​ed Journey Life Care 

     and      

End-of-Life Doula Care Services


What is the difference between 

Advance Directives 

and 

Advance Care Planning?


Many people think that Advance Care Planning is when you decide whether or not you want CPR, and when you decide who will make your medical decisions, if you can't decide for yourself. This is actually your Advance Directives.


Advance Care Planning can include Advance Directives and also be much more!

Advance Care Planning involves looking at your health, including your physical, spiritual and emotional well-being, identifying the things that are the most important to you, and creating a plan to include them your life.


Your Advance Care Plan is a way to communicate your plan to your family so that they can support you on your journey. 


Advance Care Planning enhances 

the quality of your life, assures that your family understands the things that are important to you and, as your health changes, assures that your voice is still heard and your wishes are honored in the care that you want.


Let me empower you in this process.

Advance Care Plan Party!  

Let's get together with a small group of your family or friends and walk through the process together!  

COVID safety i​s a priority, of course, so numbers would be limited at each party.  

Cost is $250 per person for a complete package.

     

     Let's start with your Advance Directives...

Health care requires you to make a lot of choices...

While there are many choices to make for your health care, when you are dealing with a serious medical condition, the of the first things you should have in mind is whether or not you want CPR.


The POLST Form

A POLST form (Physician's Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) helps you make the following choices:

  • CPR
  • Medical treatment - includes varying levels of treatment which may include IV fluids, artificial nutrition, oxygen, heart monitoring and being on a ventilator. Some of the treatments would need to be provided in a hospital.
  • An another option on the back of the form includes use of antibitiocs.

This form can be filled out at any time and your physician is a part of this process, as they will review the form with you and sign it, once it is completed.  It is utilized in the hospital and other care settings - and as intructions for emergency personnel - so keep a copy readily available in your home.



Not All Advance Directive  Forms 

Are Alike  


While all Advance Directive forms provide information for our loved ones and providers about our wishes regarding our care, and who we want to make decisions about our care in the event we are unable to do so, the same form is not going to work for everyone.  


It is important to look at different forms to find the one that is  going to work the best for you.  


Washington State has several excellent resources for Advance Directive forms.

Five Wishes

Five Wishes is a tool that allows you to express your wishes to both your providers and your loved ones i​n a clear manner, including ways that you wish to be comfortable and how you want to treated in different life care situations.  

It also allows you to designate your healthcare decision-makers. Once signed, is it a legal document to be shared with your loved ones.

Durable Power of Attorney​ for Healthcare

There is a difference between Durable Power of Attorney - the person you designate to make legal decisions for you if you are unable to do to - and a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. 


The latter makes healthcare decisions for your if you are unable to make those decisions. This may include situations where you have an illness or injury during which you are not conscious, or if you have a disease and are disoriented to a point that you are unable make safe decisions - as in the case of dementia - or should you be in a coma.

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