Stroke survivors have weathered one storm, but statistics say that they will likely face more illness. According to the American Heart Association, 25% of the nearly 800,000 Americans who suffered from a stroke in a year are survivors of a previous stroke. Not only that, the risk of dementia goes up notably after having a stroke. Given these sad statistics, many stroke survivors eventually lose their ability to communicate or make their own health care decisions. If they have not made any advance directives concerning their end-of-life wishes, the full weight of those decisions will fall upon their family members.
If you are a stroke survivor, and you have not yet discussed your wishes for future health care with your closest friends and family members, then you may be putting a lot of hard responsibility on someone you love. Your medical condition following a stroke could change suddenly. It is best to have honest conversations about how you would like to be cared for if you get to the point when you are no longer able to communicate your own wishes.
An advance directive puts your end-of-life health care wishes into writing. It is a document that includes specific information, such as:
An advance directive can also appoint a person of your choice to be your health care agent. That person can then make the decisions for you when you are no longer able to make them.
Advance directives and advance care planning can be confusing and painful topics. That’s why My Living Wishes is here. We will guide you through the necessary steps, and help you put your wishes into writing. Start planning today.
