Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE: April 4, 2012
CONTACT: Dr. Roxanne Debski- Seigel
Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation
Offices in Newton & Phillipsburg, NJ & Milford PA.
PHONE: 973-383-0115
TOLL FREE: 800-882-1117
FAX: 973-383-6889
EMAIL: rdebski-seigel@karenannquinlanhospice.org
WEBSITE: www.karenannquinlanhospice.org

National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16th

Are You Traveling Life’s Road without a Map?

Newton- April 4, 2012 – When one thinks of taking a trip to a place we have never been, the first thing most of us do is plan. Well, advance care planning is like planning a road trip to an unfamiliar destination. “Only 30% of American’s have a living will, a map detailing where they want their healthcare to “go” in the future should they become unable to voice their wishes.” Katherine Brandt, MS, Vice President, Consumer and Caregiver Services, National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

We have all heard of living wills; a living will outlines your course in advance for your future health care wishes if you were to suddenly become seriously ill or an accident victim. Would you want to have a breathing apparatus in place if there was no hope for recovery; or if you were diagnosed with an incurable life limiting illness, would you want to focus your remaining days, weeks, months in comfort and pain free or an arrangement of life-extending treatments and comfort care? Letting family and health care providers know what procedures and treatments you would want provided to you — and under what conditions is what is mapped out in a living will.

Choose your Back-up Driver legally.

A health care power of attorney or health care proxy designation form in most situations allows you to choose someone you trust to “drive” (take charge of your health care decisions) in case you are unable to make those decisions yourself. Consider a family member or friend you trust and who is unafraid to speak on your behalf as your advocate. When you drive alone and encounter a breakdown, your journey’s decisions could and would most likely be taken by someone who may not know or understand your values and wishes.

“It is important to have your map and your back-up in place to help let others know your intentions…it is kind of like calling ahead.”—Dr. Roxanne Seigel, Director of Marketing and Advancement for the Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation.

Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice has ready-made packets with current Living Will information available FREE on National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16th at any of their 3 offices. In NJ, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton and Karen Ann Quinlan Home Health Care, 755 Memorial Parkway, Phillipsburg and in PA, Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 104 Bennett Ave., Milford.

For more information please call 973-383-0115 in NJ and 570-296-3591 in PA and a packet will be mailed to you. Visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org for information on all services and events.

To learn more about advance care planning, including living wills, health care proxy and talking to people about your wishes explore the planning ahead section of www.caringinfo.org or call 800-658-8898. Caring Connections offers FREE, state-specific advance directives for all 50 states and DC that meet the legal requirements for each state. www.caringinfo.org/stateaddownload

Marlina Schetting, MSW, LCSW and Director of Social Services for Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice speaks to the need for a living will. Visit NJHerald.com and click on Health Connections.

Visit Dealing with Dying: National Healthcare Decisions Day, a YouTube discussion featuring Cathy Shane, RN and Director of Nursing for the Karen Ann Quinlan Home Health Care as one of the speakers.

The Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill, Bereavement for those who have lost loved ones and Home Care assistance for recovery patients. Serving North and Northwest NJ and the Pike County area PA; please call 800 882 1117 to reach any of our services. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ, Karen Ann Quinlan Home Health Care, 755 Memorial Parkway, Phillipsburg, NJ and Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 104 Bennett Ave., Milford, PA. For programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

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