Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Jeanene Montgomery, 806-537-3882, j-montgomery@tamu.edu
PANHANDLE – No one likes to think about the end of their life, but everyone should, according to Andy Crocker of Amarillo, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist in health and wellness for older adults.
Crocker will be the guest speaker at an hour-long seminar, Final Days: Final Decisions, to begin at 7 p.m. at the War Memorial Building, 500 Main, Panhandle, according to Jeanene Montgomery, AgriLife Extension family and consumer sciences agent for Carson County.
“The State of Texas makes it very easy for citizens to plan for decisions they may have to make at the end of their life, even if they are unable to make those decisions for themselves,” Crocker said.
Crocker will discuss the various forms that allow a family member or trusted friend to act on a person’s behalf, exercising their wishes if they are unable to do so.
He said some examples would be:
– Advanced Directive to Physician, Family and Surrogates (informally known as a living will): allows you to designate your wishes if you have a chronic or terminal illness.
– Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate: a traditional do-not-resuscitate order only works when you’re a patient in a hospital and is an order your doctor writes. For those wishing to die at home, the out-of-hospital version is a good option.
– Medical Power of Attorney: designates someone as your health agent to act on your behalf and in accordance with your wishes.
– Designation of Guardian in Advance of Need: allows you to specify who you do and don’t want the court to consider for your guardian if the need arises.
– Organ Donation: people of any age can donate organs as long as they are healthy. From skin to bones to lungs and eyes … they’re all needed.
Preregistration is required by Oct. 12. For more information or to preregister, contact Kelly Mitchell at the AgriLife Extension office for Carson County at 806-537-3882.
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