Today (April 16) is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day meant to serve as a reminder about the importance of talking about advance care planning and completing advance directives.
South Dakota State University Clinical Assistant Professor Theresa Garren-Grubbs says even if you have already completed an advance directive, reviewing it annually helps to ensure these documents still align with your personal preferences for medical care.
“We know that many people in South Dakota have not completed advance directives,” says Garren-Grubbs. “The South Dakota Department of Health indicates that only one in three adults have completed an advance directive form. These forms allow you to provide instructions about your healthcare or appoint someone to make medical treatment decisions for you when you cannot speak for yourself.”
Advance care directive forms are available from most medical care providers. SDSU Extension has compiled a variety of resources to aid South Dakotans and their families during the process of advance care planning — a process Garren-Grubbs says should be reviewed annually, especially following major life events.
“Advance care planning is not a one and done,” says Garren-Grubbs. “Advance care planning is a lifelong process.”
In addition to helping South Dakotans get started on advance care planning, Garren-Grubbs and SDSU Extension are hoping to gather testimonials from adults across the state who have developed and successfully used an advance directive. If interested in sharing your story, please contact Leacey Brown with SDSU Extension at Leacey.Brown@sdstate.edu or Garren-Grubbs at Theresa.GarrenGrubbs@sdstate.edu.
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