You plan ahead for work.
Now plan your personal life.
Start your Advance Care Planning today.
In Hawai‘i, we get to know each other better by “talking story.” It means comfortable conversations. That’s how Advance Care Planning should be. We take the time to find out about each other’s desires, values and preferences for future care by listening to what’s on each other’s minds.
It involves honest, heartfelt communications.
Advance Care Planning
Involves more than one, single conversation.
Over time, circumstances may change. Ongoing talk story sessions help others better understand and clarify our desires for future care.
Even if you’re in good health, it’s important to share your wishes because your health status could change suddenly. You don’t have to wait until a health crisis to start Advance Care Planning. It’s never too early to start …until it’s too late.
We are happy to foster and support your Advance Care Planning process. Kōkua Mau has a comprehensive Workplace Wellness Program with presentations by trained professionals, printed materials and a workbook to walk you through every step of the way. To learn more about employers workplace wellness.
It starts with you.
You don’t have to wait for your doctor or someone else to start an Advance Care Planning conversation. You can be the one to initiate the conversation.
You can start the Advance Care Planning Process by first identifying what is important to you. You can ask yourself what is most important to you. This will help make it easier to share your thoughts with your loved ones.
Once you’re shared your thoughts, it’s important to know what you expect of your loved ones.
Do you want them to do exactly what you have requested, even if it makes them uncomfortable?
Or do you prefer to have your family do what brings them peace, even if it goes against what you’ve requested?
Planning your conversation
Anytime is the right time to start having an Advance Care Planning conversation.
It could be at the next family potluck, the baby luau, or the holiday get together when your adult children are home in Hawaii on school break. It could be while you still are active, healthy and vibrant, or before you get sick again, before you go a trip or before your parents arrive. Pick a time that feels right for you.
Talking story, anywhere.
Your Advance Care Planning talk story session can be held anywhere that’s comfortable for you and your family. It could be in the living room, at the kitchen table, at the beach, during a beautiful, scenic hike, at your favorite restaurant, while you’re stuck in traffic on the H-1 freeway, or at your place of worship. There is no right or wrong place to talk story about Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning.
Remember, you don’t have to feel you have to cover everything in one conversation. Quality advance care planning may require a series of conversations. Every conversation contributes to clarifying what kind of care you want in the future.
Advance care planning is not a topic most people want to talk about, but you should plan to bring it up.
A conversation with your doctor.
Having a conversation with your doctor and other healthcare providers are just as important as having a conversation with your loved ones.
Doctors are generally busy seeing patients, so if there isn’t enough time, consider scheduling an appointment specifically to focus on an Advance Care Planning conversation. Some health plans or healthcare organizations incentivize doctors to have Advance Care Planning conversations with their patients. Ask your doctor for more details.
Reference “How to Talk to Your Doctor” for a free guide on getting the conversation going. Your doctor will appreciate you taking the initiative.
Useful questions to start your conversations (click on the +)
Consider asking yourself the hard questions that you may have put off or have tried not to think about
When you think about the last phase of your life, what’s most important to you? How would you like this phase to be?
When you think about the last phase of your life, what’s most important to you? How would you like this phase to be?
Do you have any particular concerns about your health? About the last phase of your life?
Who do you want — or not want — to be involved in your care? Who would you like to make decisions on your behalf if you’re not able to? (This person is your healthcare agent.)
Are there any disagreements or family tensions that you’re concerned about?
Are there any disagreements or family tensions that you’re concerned about?
What is your preference for the location to receive care? (A hospital, nursing facility, in your own home) Are there certain types of treatment you would want or not want? (Resuscitation if your heart stops, breathing machine, feeding tube?)
When would it be okay to shift from a focus on curative care to a focus on comfort care alone?
Once you’re shared your thoughts, it’s important to know what you expect of your loved ones. Do you want them to do exactly what you have requested, even if it makes them uncomfortable?
Or do you prefer to have your family do what brings them peace, even if it goes against what you’ve requested?
Icebreaker tips to start your conversation
Here are some ways you could break the ice and start your Advance Care Planning conversation:
“I need your help with something.”
“Remember how Aunty Edna died in the hospital with all of those life-support systems. I was wondering what you thought about that?”
“I was thinking about what happened to Uncle Kimo, and it got me thinking about my own death…”
“Even though I’m okay right now, I’m concerned about the future and I want to be prepared, so that you will have an easier time making decisions for me when the time comes for that.”
“I need to think about the future. Will you help me?”
“I just answered some questions about how I want the end of my life to be. I want you to see my answers. And I’m wondering what your answers would be.”