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Put your life on your terms with Advance Directives There are many things in life that are out of your control, but with the help of advance directives you are able to control your care if you become seriously ill. Advance medical directives are legal documents that allow you to give directions for your future medical care. It is your right to accept or refuse medical care and advance directives help protect this right. “By creating an advance directive, you are making your preferences about medical care known before you’re faced with a serious injury or illness,” said Kristi Walters, Social Services Director at the Henderson Care Center. “This will ensure that your physician and the hospital staff know what medical treatment you would or would not want to have performed.” There are two types of advance directives that you can choose to document - a living will or durable power of attorney. With a living will, you create written instructions that explain your wishes regarding your health care if you have a terminal condition. A durable power of attorney for health care is a written document where you can name a person to make decisions for you if you become unable to make your own decisions. “Any person 18 years of age or older can prepare an advance directive,” said Walters. “An accident or serious illness can happen suddenly, and if you already have a signed advance directive, your wishes are more likely to be followed.” To start creating your advance directives, check your state laws regarding living wills and durable power of attorney for health care, put your wishes in writing and be specific, sign and date your advance directives, keep a card in your wallet stating that you have advance directives and where to find them, give your physician a copy to be kept as part of your medical records, discuss your advance directives with your family, friends, physician and proxy, give copies to a relative or friend who is likely to be notified in an emergency and review your advance directives regularly to make changes. If you are interested in more information or you are ready to complete your advance directives, contact Kristi Walters, Social Services Director, at Henderson Health Care Services by calling (402) 723-4512 ext. 306. “An advance directive is your life on your terms,” said Walters. “Whether you’re 18 or 80, documenting your wishes today means your family won’t have to make heart-wrenching decisions later.” 
Online Health Search Engine Henderson Health Care Services understands the desire family members and patients have to conduct online health research. Below you will find a research library to tens of thousands of health sources where you may read and examine health topics of interest to you. The program includes the Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary, A research engine, and The FastNurse Personal Research Service as well as other interesting components. Though your doctor is the best source of accurate information, this online educational library of comparative health information links gives you a starting point for research so you do not have to turn to other popular search engines. Begin Your Search Below Click Here For Online Health Dictionary Click Here For General Health Research FastNurse Personal Research Coordinator Click Here For Information About H1N1 (Swine) Flu |
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