Preparing Your Advance Medical Directive

Just like preparing for an unpredictable earthquake, preparing an advance medical directive allows peace of mind from thinking ahead. Thinking through an advance care plan and informing family and trusted friends gives added security.

Should a person become incapacitated, family and friends can follow written decisions about how they and the medical providers can respond, said Suzanne Shiff, director advanced care planning at with the Honoring Choices Napa Valley coalition. She will be the featured speaker of the Carquinez Village Project (CVP) monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 21 in the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Benicia.

Shiff represents Honoring Choices Napa Valley (HCNV) , is a coalition of organizations and individuals in Napa County committed to promoting Advance Care Planning to facilitate informed healthcare decision making at all stages of life.

Shiff noted that thinking ahead and talking about the possibility of death is important but often it is a conversation avoided.

“We don’t talk about what we would want at the end of our lives because it is not something we are accustomed to talking about. If we really want to have our experience at the end of life go well, we need to be used to having these conversations, long before we become ill. We need to talk about what we would want at the end our lives, even if we are not close to death,” she clarified.

It is through this conversation that we describe what is most important to us so that our whole family understands, she added. Her presentation will valuable forms, guides and information that will help prepare you to have this important conversation.

A question and answer session and light refreshments will follow Shiff’s presentation.

The mission of the Carquinez Village Project is to connect, support, and inspire seniors through a “neighbor-to-neighbor” volunteer network that would provide social, practical, and referral assistance in Benicia and Vallejo who want to remain in their homes and live full and independent lives as they age. More information is available at www.CarquinezVillage.org or by calling 707-297-2472.