How should I plan for the future?

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Advance care planning is the process of preparing for possible future illness and incapacity by thinking in advance about what matters to you. These concerns can powerfully shape what medical treatments are right for you and, hence, what treatments you ultimately receive. Sometimes advance care planning relates to a future health state that is rare but devastating if it occurs, such as a serious accident causing head injury and coma, a persistent vegetative state,…

There are multiple steps to advance care planning: clarifying your current health status prioritizing your goals for care designating a surrogate decision maker (a health care agent or proxy) conveying your wishes to the nurses, doctors, and other health care providers caring for you, as well as to your health care proxy, often by using a form or another means (such as an audiotape, a videotape, a letter, or simply a physicians note…

The main types of advance directives are the health care power of attorney and the living will. Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST) forms are another way to communicate your wishes. What is a health care power of attorney? A health care power of attorney is a legally binding document that permits you to name a health care agent (sometimes called a health care proxy) to make medical decisions on your behalf…

Although heart failure is a serious disease, with appropriate medications many people live long and happy lives. As with any lasting illness that worsens over time, it is wise to plan ahead. There are several important steps you can take that can give you and your family peace of mind later on. For example, you can complete an advance directive. This document outlines your preferences for health care in the event you are unable…

Heart failure caused by damage to the heart that has developed over time can't be cured. But it can be treated. Sticking closely to your treatment plan can help improve your symptoms and your quality of life. It can help you stay out of the hospital. And it can help you to live longer. …