It is the mission and vision of the Scotland County End of Life Care Coalition to provide education and support to help area residents have conversations and make informed decisions that lead to compassionate end of life care.

Today with the many advances in science and medicine, life has been prolonged and has drastically changed dying experience.

While almost everyone insists they want to die at home, most people die in hospital in unnecessary pain. The dying process takes longer, exacting a great toll emotionally and financially on the family, caregivers, friends and the community.

Each of life's important thresholds provides an opportunity of reflection. End of life is an integral part of life itself. Consideration of dying prompts life's biggest questions:

Who do I want making care decisions for me when I can't?
What kind of medical treatment do I want toward the end of life?
What would help me feel comfortable while I am dying?
What do I want my loved ones to know about me and my feelings after I'm gone?

New openness has come to these vital end of life issues. As a person, family member or caregiver is

confronted with dying, there is a great relief and comfort provided from taking these simple steps.
 

Talk about It:
Initiate the most important and intimate conversation you will ever have.

Plan head:
Clearly stated preferences must be documented. Know that pain can be controlled. Pain can be
addressed without causing addiction. Death without pain is a person's right.

Choose carefully:
Palliative care focuses on symptom management. There are many new healthcare options available
today. Consider all of them.

What the Coalition will do:
Resources and personnel will be provided to assist you in making end of life decisions as well as understanding medical treatments and legal needs. These services are free.

End of Life Decisions Terms you need to understand:

Advance Care Planning:
Decision-making process about end of life care based on personal values and wishes about care, documentation of those wishes and a discussion with loved one's healthcare providers and minister.

Advance Directive:
A statement made by a competent individual expressing preferences for medical treatment be given or withheld in the event that the person should become unable to make or express those choices at the time of future illness or injury.

Health Care Power of Attorney:
A legal document that appoints another person as your legal healthcare representative to make medical decisions when you no longer can make them for yourself.

Living Will:
A document stating a patient's wish for death with dignity; an individual's instructions for treatment related to extraordinary means and artificial hydration or nutrition to be used or withheld if that person is terminal incurable or a persistent vegetative state.

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If your Advance Care Directives are not in place, we encourage you to take the time to discuss these issues with your loved ones. By completing your directives, you will give your family the perfect priceless gift.

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