A Gift For Your Loved Ones: Advance Care Planning
Making healthcare decisions that meet your wishes for care
Advance care planning is the practice of getting the care you want and need, and no more when you experience a sudden trauma, during a serious illness or at the end of your life when you can no longer speak for yourself. Learn how to discuss and document how you want to live at the end of your life. The time to do this is when you turn 18, get married/widowed/divorced or every 5-10 years, i.e., the time to do this is NOW.
Plan Now. Communicate to Your Loved Ones.
Create Options. Experience Peace of Mind.
When you tell your loved ones and doctors how you want to live and what medical options align with your wishes, you can turn a time of confusion into one of acceptance, understanding, and choice.
Having a voice in your healthcare decisions will govern your dignity, quality of life, and level of care.
Maureen A. Erwin,
Board-Certified Chaplain and Advance Care Planning Facilitator
Helping You Define Your Goals of Care to Experience Clarity and Trust
I help you and your family minimize the agonizing decision-making families confront every day at bedsides, in homes, hospital ICU’s, and emergency rooms.
CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR LOVED ONES
It may be hard, but it’s important to have conversations with your loved ones as early as possible so you can plan your care in the event of sudden trauma, serious illness, or at the end-of-life and get the care you want, no less and no more.
PREPAREDNESS TO REDUCE CONFUSION AND STRESS
Knowing the extent of care you or your loved one wants brings relief and a sense of conviction and trust in the decisions and actions you or your loved ones and caregivers make and take in a confusing and difficult time.
ACP: A BALANCE BETWEEN HEART, SOUL, AND FINANCES
Losing a loved one is painful, but financial considerations cannot be overlooked; they can and should become part of your planning conversations. Advance Care Planning incorporates the emotional, spiritual, and financial aspects of your life.
Services Provided
SPEAKING
Working alone or with New Jersey based organizations that support doctors and healthcare providers, I speak with individuals, family members, chaplain groups, clergy groups, senior groups, and congregations to stress the benefits of having the conversation well in advance of a crisis.
CONSULTANCY
I provide one-to-one ACP consultancy with individuals and families. In heart-centered discussions you will receive guidance on how to choose a healthcare proxy who will honor your wishes to ensure your goals are met when you cannot speak for yourself.
A GIFT FOR YOUR LOVED ONES: ADVANCE CARE PLANNING CONVERSATION
This program focuses on the importance of having healthcare discussions with your loved ones. You will learn how to ask informed questions, discuss, explore, and choose your medical treatment options with your medical team and the people you love, and understand how to document those decisions.
Your Clarity and Family-Leadership Can Make All the Difference
I know how hard end-of-life conversations can be. But it’s important to start these conversations early and make them a regular part of family discussions
The sooner and more frequently you have these discussions, the greater the chance your family will avoid crisis decision-making and the family discord that can result
Informed family members will experience less stress and depression when they know your wishes and can make decisions that align with your choices
If you believe advance care planning is a gift you can give to your loved ones, reach out, and I'll help you clarify your goals of care, align your medical options, and start a conversation with the important people in your life
Tools and Assets to Help You on Your Planning Journey
Your most difficult task is identifying your goals of care and communicating your wishes to your loved ones even years in advance, before a crisis.
Beyond that, you do not need an attorney or specially prepared legal documents to complete the Advance Care Planning process, unless you have a special circumstance such as dementia, Alzheimers, or a guardianship. You can use documents that are readily available and recognizable in the medical community. You may also decide to work with an elder care attorney. In combination with or independent of any of these steps, I am here to help you and your loved ones.
