Psychology Today: 5 Ways Completing an Advance Directive is a Gift to You & Your Family

In this recent article for his Psychology Today Series, Permission to Choose, Dr. Bob Uslander, Co-Founder of Empowered Endings, explains how completing an advance directive is a gift to both you and your loved ones.

As an experienced physician with over 35 years in the field, Dr. Uslander has witnessed the gift given to loved ones left behind when an advance directive is completed and available for healthcare professionals to follow in the final stages of life. He’s also seen the wake of devastation left behind by people who do not have an advance directive completed before a crisis ensues in the final days, weeks, and even months of someone’s life.   

An advance directive, also known as a living will, is a legal document that includes detailed instructions for how a person wants to be cared for in the final stages of life. Did you know that your loved ones often get it wrong in terms of what level of care you want at the end-of-life? A recent study showed that people guessed one out of three end of life decisions incorrectly for their loved ones. Don’t let that happen to you. End-of-life planning empowers individuals to maintain control over their final journey, ensuring decisions reflect their values and priorities. It facilitates clear communication with healthcare providers, family members, and loved ones, making sure wishes are understood and respected.

Here are a few key benefits discussed in the article:

• Reduces Burden: Completing an advance directive reduces the burden for you and family members making complex decisions during an emotional time. Trying to make decisions about your care when you are unprepared and facing a crisis is not ideal and can lead to suboptimal care. 

• Peace of Mind: Having conversations about your end-of-life journey sooner rather than later gives you time before a crisis hits to discover how you want to be cared. Writing down your wishes and sharing them with your loved ones and medical professionals gives you peace of mind that when the time comes to execute your wishes, everyone will be equipped to do so.

• Legally Binding Instructions: An advance directive is a legally binding document that ensures your wishes are followed throughout your care at the end-of-life. It removes doubt and answers important questions that are specific to you and your care. 

• Avoid Unwanted Medical Care: An advance directive clearly outlines your healthcare preferences, ensuring that doctors and medical staff follow your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, pain management, and other crucial decisions if you are unable to communicate. This prevents you from enduring unnecessary and unwanted medical care when you are unable to communicate your preferences.

• Less Guilt and Depression: Your loved ones can grieve more easily and feel less guilt and depression through the grieving process if they know that your wishes were followed. Completing an advance directive is the most effective way to ensure this happens.