Taking Control of Your Future: Understanding Advance Directives in Utah
From the peaks of Mount Olympus to the shores of Utah Lake, our communities understand the importance of preparation. Just as Utah families prepare for everything from winter storms to family reunions, preparing for future medical decisions is equally crucial. Here in the Beehive State, where family and faith guide many of our important decisions, advance directives take on special significance.
Understanding Advance Directives
Dr. James Peterson at Inspiration Hospice, who has served families from Provo to Ogden for over 15 years, explains from his Murray office, “An advance directive is like a map for your healthcare journey. It helps your family and healthcare providers understand your wishes when you can’t express them yourself.”
Why Utah Residents Need Advance Directives
Bishop Thompson, who counsels families in his Salt Lake Valley ward, shares, “In our community, where family ties run deep and decisions often involve extended family members, having clear directives helps prevent confusion and potential conflicts during difficult times.”
Key Components of an Advance Directive
Living Will
- Specifies your wishes for end-of-life care
- Details preferences for medical treatments
- Outlines comfort care choices
- Addresses religious and cultural considerations
Medical Power of Attorney (Healthcare Agent)
- Names someone to make medical decisions when you can’t
- Often a spouse, adult child, or trusted family member
- Can include alternate agents
- Should be someone who understands your values and wishes
The Utah Difference
In our state, advance directives can include specific provisions for:
- Coordination with ecclesiastical leaders
- Religious preferences for medical care
- Family council involvement
- Cultural considerations unique to our community
Making It Official
Here in Utah, making your advance directive legal requires:
- Your signature
- Two adult witnesses OR notarization
- Distribution to family members and healthcare providers
- Optional filing with the Utah Advance Directive Registry
When to Create an Advance Directive
Lisa Martinez, a social worker with Inspiration Hospice serving the Wasatch Front, advises, “While many people think advance directives are only for the elderly or ill, every adult should have one. Life is as unpredictable as our canyon weather.”
Important times to create or update your directive:
- When you turn 18
- Marriage or divorce
- Birth of children
- Significant health changes
- Moving to a new state
- Changes in family relationships
Starting the Conversation
“Here in Utah, where family councils are common, discussing advance directives can be part of these important family meetings,” suggests Dr. Peterson. Consider discussing:
- Your values and beliefs
- Medical treatment preferences
- End-of-life care wishes
- Family roles and responsibilities
- Cultural and religious considerations
Local Resources for Help
Assistance is available through:
- Inspiration Hospice’s planning services
- Local hospitals like Intermountain and University of Utah
- LDS Family Services
- Utah Legal Services
- Local senior centers from Logan to Spanish Fork
Making Your Wishes Known
Emma Anderson from Bountiful shares, “After watching my parents struggle with decisions for my grandmother, my husband and I completed our advance directives. Now our children, who live from Lehi to Layton, all know exactly what we want.”
Steps to Take Now
- Obtain advance directive forms (available from healthcare providers or online)
- Discuss your wishes with family members
- Choose your healthcare agent
- Complete the documents legally
- Share copies with:
- Family members
- Healthcare providers
- Your bishop or religious leader if desired
- Utah Advance Directive Registry
Regular Review and Updates
Just as our valley changes with the seasons, life circumstances change too. Review your advance directive:
- Every few years
- After major life events
- When medical conditions change
- If your healthcare agent’s situation changes
Peace of Mind for the Future
As one Inspiration Hospice nurse observes, looking out at the Wasatch Front, “Having an advance directive is like the preparation we make for our changing seasons – it helps us face whatever comes with confidence and clarity.”
Whether you live in a downtown Salt Lake City apartment or a Highland home with a mountain view, an advance directive ensures your wishes are known and honored. In our close-knit Utah communities, where caring for one another is a way of life, these documents help families honor their loved ones’ choices with confidence and peace of mind.
For assistance with advance directives or to learn more about planning for future healthcare needs, contact Inspiration Hospice. Their experienced team understands Utah’s unique family and cultural dynamics and can help you create a directive that reflects your values and wishes.
Remember, planning ahead is an act of love for your family – as essential as the mountains are to our Utah landscape.