According to a recent Wealth Management article, the 11 most common mistakes in healthcare directives are:
1. Treating directives as simply a form to complete, rather than an important family discussion.
2. Focusing on checking boxes to complete a form, rather than ensuring the directive includes the specific information the maker needs to share about her beliefs and needs.
3. Treating directives as an “afterthought” to planning, rather than an integral part of the entire planning process.
4. Not carefully considering who should serve as your surrogate decision maker; that is, one who has the skills and responsibility to serve in that role.
5. Failing to include all important family members in the decision-making process.
6. Assuming that the attorney who assisted you in making the directive has a complete signed copy in her possession. At DRC, we offer digital solutions in order to make these important documents immediately available in time of crisis.
7. Failing to periodically revisit a directive to make sure it is current.
8. Thinking of directives as an individual task rather than an integral part of planning for an entire family. While end of life directives are very personal, makers should consider how other family should be involved.
9. Using only negative statements about what “not to do”, and failing to include a statement about the type of care you do want to receive.
10. Thinking that healthcare directives are only for “older” people. In fact, all of life has risks and every person over 18 should have a directive in place.
MWR
