BROOKINGS, S.D. - South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension and the SDSU College of Nursing are collecting stories from South Dakotans to promote advance care planning in honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day.
Professionals working in long-term care and medical settings have advocated for advance care planning since the 1990s. Since then, a variety of strategies have been used to help patients and their families understand the importance of discussing medical care preferences in crisis situations and at the end of life.
However, success of their advocacy efforts has been limited. According to the South Dakota Department of Health, only one in three adults in the state have completed advance directives, which are documents (such as a living will, medical power of attorney, etc.) that state what kind of health care treatment a person would want to receive, or not want to receive, if they could not speak for themselves.
Each year, National Healthcare Decisions Day is commemorated on April 16. The promotional event seeks to increase knowledge about advanced care planning, with the ultimate goal of individuals having conversations with their friends and family about the type of healthcare they want to receive in a crisis, emergency or accident situation (e.g., ranch accident, stroke, etc.).
In lieu of the event, SDSU Extension and the SDSU College of Nursing are hoping to increase the number of advance directives that are completed in South Dakota.
“It’s important to understand that completing the formal paperwork is only one part of advance care planning. The conversation with your health care proxy or agent (your decision maker) is what matters most.”
“It’s important to understand that completing the formal paperwork is only one part of advance care planning,” said Leacey E. Brown, SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist. “The conversation with your health care proxy or agent (your decision maker) is what matters most.”
Many difficult decisions may have to be made at the end of life. These decisions include withholding or withdrawing treatment or making the decision to donate a loved one’s organs. Therefore, discussing topics like these before an emergency arises is critical.
“These conversations are important and can help everyone involved be at peace with the decisions that are made,” said Theresa Garren-Grubbs, Clinical Assistant Professor in the SDSU College of Nursing.
Advance care planning is for medical emergencies, such as when someone is in an accident and becomes unconscious, or when an unexpected event, such as a stroke, happens during a routine surgery. It ensures patients get the medical care they want when they are unable to communicate with family members or medical providers.
“People often think advance care planning is about preparing for a nursing home or some other kind of skilled care – that’s a common mistake,” said Brown.
This year, to commemorate National Healthcare Decisions Day, Brown and Garren-Grubbs are asking South Dakotans, who have made medical decisions for someone else or have put a plan in place for someone else to make medical care decisions for them, to share their experiences.
Advance care planning is a deeply personal experience, but it is through these difficult conversations and experiences that we get real stories of how powerful advance care planning can be. The team is hopeful that these real stories may help others understand why advance care planning matters.
“I hear stories all the time about how thankful someone is to have had these advance directives in place during a difficult time,” said Garren-Grubbs. “We would love to hear more stories from others, too.”
Brown and Garren-Grubbs are hoping professionals, adult children and older adults from across the state will share their advance care planning stories to help other South Dakotans understand why they should prioritize advance care planning.
For more information, or to share a story or experience, contact Leacey E. Brown, SDSU Extension Gerontology Field Specialist, at Leacey.Brown@sdstate.edu or (605) 394-1722. Those interested may also complete the form below to be contacted about the project.
