Don't leave our family guessing, April's healthcare decisions month pushes for advance care planning

It's almost May, but April was Health Care Decisions Month in North Carolina, a time to raise awareness about planning for the future. This includes thinking about your wishes for end-of-life care, like updating your will and health care directives.

We often assume our loved ones know what we want, but many people are unsure. Data shows nearly a third of people guess wrong about their loved ones' end-of-life preferences.

Advance care planning is the process of making decisions about your future medical care in case you're unable to speak for yourself. This helps your family act on your wishes and reduces stress for them during a difficult time.

Joining WRAL News to discuss this important topic is Risa Hanau, a clinical and community educator with Authora Care, a palliative and hospice care organization.

Hanau, what does advance care planning involve? Is it just filling out forms?

Hanau: It's actually broader than documents. There are documents like living wills, but those are just one piece. The bigger picture is having conversations - the tough ones - with loved ones, healthcare providers, and faith leaders. This helps them understand what's important to you and what kind of care you'd want if you couldn't speak for yourself.

Why is this important for caregivers too?

Hanau: Knowing your wishes helps caregivers make difficult decisions with confidence. Research shows it can improve their mental health and reduce depression during a stressful time.

In your experience, how does advance care planning benefit families?

Hanau: Having these conversations and completing documents is a gift to yourself and your family. Imagine it's 3 am in the emergency room. It's a tough situation anyway, but if your family knows your wishes, they can make decisions with confidence. That's a powerful gift.

We shouldn't wait until a crisis to talk about this. What's one step we can take today?

Hanau: Start a conversation with loved ones about what matters to you. There are also many online resources, like the Authoritas Care website and other advance care planning websites. Include your doctor in these conversations as well.