Howard Center has joined with organizations throughout Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties to participate in the “Who’s Your Person, What’s Your Plan” initiative to promote Advance Care Planning (ACP). The project encourages everyone to think about and plan for future medical treatment, before they experience a catastrophic event which may leave them unable to make decisions or to express their wishes to their family or physician.
According to the Vermont Ethics Network and Taking Steps Vermont, the key steps to developing a plan are to:
- Appoint a Health Care Agent.
- Complete an Advance Directive with detailed information about your health care goals and treatment preferences.
- Consider talking with your clinician about Medical Orders to limit the use of aggressive, life-sustaining treatments at the end-of-life.
If you and/or a loved one are ready to take steps about your future, you can view and download the necessary forms from the Vermont Ethics Network.
A recent article in Vt.Digger highlights recognizes that end-of-life decisions can be difficult but necessary: A Good Death: Listening at the End of Life to Improve a Patient’s Experience
Thank you to the Vermont Ethics Network and Taking Steps Vermont for providing information included on this page.