Introduction to Advance Directives

United Hospice of Rockland respects the rights of their patients to make choices about their health care.  An advance directive is a means by which you can make your wishes known and can make sure you receive the care you want.  Completing advance directives will help you feel reassured that your choices can be honored immediately, without losing valuable time, and that difficult decisions will be easier for your loved ones to make.

Advance directives consist of four types.  Each enables you to convey your end-of-life wishes in the event that you are unable to communicate:

1. A Health Care Proxy (also known as a health care power of attorney) allows you to appoint a person you trust as your health care agent, who is authorized to make medical decisions on your behalf.
    
2. A Living Will allows you to document your wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life.
    
3. A Do Not Resuscitate Order (also known as a DNR) is a physician’s order that directs health care professionals and/or emergency medical personnel NOT to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation if your heart or breathing stops.  A DNR is only completed when someone is chronically or seriously ill. 
    
4. An Organ Donor Designation allows you to document your wishes regarding donating your organs after your death.  Even if you have indicated that you would like to be an organ donor, your family or health care proxy/agent must give their permission in order for the donation to take place.

The best time to write advance directives is while you're healthy.  To help you through the process, we have outlined below important information, PDF forms and instructions on completing advance directives in New York State. 

• Preparing Advance Directives

• Choosing a Health Care Agent

• Communicating your End-of-Life Wishes

• Health Care Proxy

• Living Will

• Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)

• Organ Donor Designation

• Issues to Consider When Completing Advance Directives

• Frequently Asked Questions on Advance Directives

Storing and Retrieving Your Advance Directives

Once you have completed your advance directives, where you should you keep them?   In the previous section labeled, Frequently Asked Questions, we have informed you which individual’s should receive copies of your advance directives.  Is that adequate?  Our answer is, “No”.  It is easy to forget where paper documents are stored.  If documents are not kept in a waterproof and fire safe container, they can be easily damaged. Wherever you may choose to store them, are health care providers able to access them when they are needed? In all likelihood, the answer to that question is also, “No.”

United Hospice of Rockland, Inc. has developed the perfect solution for you.   It is a free, secure, web (internet) based site that enable your documents to be safely stored and accessed by health professionals when they are needed.   It is called www.assuringyourwishes.org  All you need to do, is print a copy of the enrollment form and sign it. (Click on the link, we have provided for you and it will take you to the site.)  Mail the enrollment form with copies (NOT the originals) of your advance directives. The address is: Assuringyourwishes.org, c/o United Hospice of Rockland, Inc., 11 Stokum Lane, New city, NY  10956.   We will scan and upload the documents to the website.  We will mail back all of your documents with three ID cards on which is written your name and the password that has been assigned.  One card is designed for you to carry in you wallet.  Make it the first thing that someone sees if they open your wallet.  One copy is for your health care agent and one copy is for your physician.  Instructions to retrieve your directives are on the back of the card.  You can request additional wallet cards by calling us at 845-634-4974. 

Contact United Hospice of Rockland at (845) 634-4974 or info@hospiceofrockland.org if you would like further information or help on advance directives.