Advance Directive Guide for Hospice Patients
Competent adults, 18 years of age and over, admitted to SJH HospiceCare must be informed under federal and state law that they have the right to create an advance directive if they so desire.
An advance directive is defined as an oral or written directive prepared in advance to designate the kind of medical care you want in the event you become unable to make decisions for yourself. You have the right to accept or refuse any procedure or treatment used to diagnose or treat your physical or mental condition, including life-sustaining treatment.
There are three different ways to have an advance directive:
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Health Care proxy directive
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Instruction directive
- Combined directive
A health care proxy directive allows you to choose a person you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This is also known as a “durable power of attorney for health care.”
An instruction directive is a set of written instructions that identify in advance the medical treatments you would accept or refuse and the circumstances under which you want your wishes carried out. This is also called a “Living Will.”
A combined directive lets you do both. It lets you name a health care representative and tells that person your treatment wishes.
SJH HospiceCare recommends that if you choose to have an advance directive you share this document with your physician, family members and health-care professionals who are caring for you. A copy of your advance directive will be kept on file with your clinical record at SJH HospiceCare so that all appropriate agency staff are aware of your wishes.
You can change or revoke your advance directive at any time. Again, it is important that these changes be shared with hospice so that your wishes can be honored.
It is not a requirement of SJH HospiceCare that you have an advance directive to receive care.
The following is a sample of an advance directive. Other samples are available.
If you would like more information about advance directives, please contact your hospice social worker at 856-794-1515