Oct 9-15 Is Ohio Advance Directives Week

Governor Kasich has proclaimed October 9-15 "Honoring Wishes Week" and is joining the Midwest Care Alliance, the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio State Medical Association and the Ohio State Bar Association in promoting Living Wills and Advance Directives.

The Ohio Osteopathic Association urges its members to join other health professionals and attorneys throughout the state in helping patients plan for unexpected accidents and illnesses by completing an advance directive.   

Light the Way

The decisions a person makes regarding their healthcare preferences and treatment wishes at the end of life are extremely important. As a result, the Midwest Care Alliance (formerly the Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (OHPCO), in collaboration with the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio Hospital Association, the Ohio Osteopathic Association and the Ohio State Medical Association have published two documents to help patients have discussions and complete forms on how to deal with life threatening situations when a patient cannot speak for him/herself.

Conversations That Light the Way is a workbook designed to assist patients in making choices about the kind of health care they want as they journey through the final phases of life. Although this subject can be uncomfortable for many people to address, it is important that each person has the opportunity to make these important choices for themselves. The workbook contains questions, prompts and information designed to help Ohioans consider and discuss choices at the end of life. Patients may want to revisit this workbook over the years as these conversations take time and their decisions and choices may change.

The complete advance directive booklet, Choices: Living Well at the End of Lifeand companion guide, Conversations That Light the Wayalong with other useful information are available online or can be ordered from the Midwest Care Alliance by clicking here.

Ohio Legal Services offers a self-guided interview to prepare Ohio Advance Directors. To utilize this on-line tool, click here.

For additional information, see the articles below and visit these web sites:

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