5. Completing a Living Will (11 minutes) Slide 10 SAY: Now please turn to the living will section of the VA advance directive, which is on page three. Also take out the handout titled, for Patients: Common Life-Sustaining “Information Treatments.” A living will is a legal form that states what kinds of treatments you would or want if you become ill and wouldn’t decide for yourself. can’t For patients who want assistance completing a living willing, start by having a general conversation about health care preferences. Ask them to think about what would be meaningful or important to them if they were sick or injured and for themselves. Give them some couldn’t communicate examples of what people might want most to happen, such as to be as comfortable as possible, to live as long as possible, or to spend time with loved ones. Ask the patient what would be important to them. Also give them some examples of what people might want most to avoid, such as to be unable to communicate, to be in pain, or being separated from loved ones. Encourage the patient to discuss experiences they have had with family or friends and how that relates to what they would want. If there is a particular situation that is relevant to the patient, be sure to explore that with them. After the patient has thought about what is important to them if they were sick or injured and couldn’t communicate their preferences, describe some medical situations in which they would not be able to make their own health care decisions. Some examples are: - You are unconscious, in a coma, or in a vegetative state and there is little or no chance of recovery; - You have permanent, severe brain damage that makes you unable to recognize family or friends (for example, severe dementia); - You have a permanent condition where other people must help you with your daily needs (for example, eating, bathing, toileting); - You need to use a breathing machine and be in bed for the rest of your life; - You have pain or other severe symptoms that cause suffering and be relieved; and can’t - You have a condition that will make you die very soon, even with life-sustaining treatments
5. Completing a Living Will (11 minutes) Slide 10 SAY: Now please turn to the living will section of the VA advance directive, which is on page three. Also take out the handout titled, “Information for Patients: Common Life-Sustaining Treatments.” A living will is a legal form that states what kinds of treatments you would or wouldn’t want if you become ill and can’t decide for yourself. For patients who want assistance completing a living willing, start by having a general conversation about health care preferences. Ask them to think about what would be meaningful or important to them if they were sick or injured and couldn’t communicate for themselves. Give them some examples of what people might want most to happen, such as to be as comfortable as possible, to live as long as possible, or to spend time with loved ones. Ask the patient what would be important to them. Also give them some examples of what people might want most to avoid, such as to be unable to communicate, to be in pain, or being separated from loved ones. Encourage the patient to discuss experiences they have had with family or friends and how that relates to what they would want. If there is a particular situation that is relevant to the patient, be sure to explore that with them. After the patient has thought about what is important to them if they were sick or injured and couldn’t communicate their preferences, describe some medical situations in which they would not be able to make their own health care decisions. Some examples are: - You are unconscious, in a coma, or in a vegetative state and there is little or no chance of recovery; - You have permanent, severe brain damage that makes you unable to recognize family or friends (for example, severe dementia); - You have a permanent condition where other people must help you with your daily needs (for example, eating, bathing, toileting); - You need to use a breathing machine and be in bed for the rest of your life; - You have pain or other severe symptoms that cause suffering and can’t be relieved; and - You have a condition that will make you die very soon, even with life-sustaining treatments
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