Voice Your Choice, a program of Nexus Montgomery, is a community-based program led by JSSA that promotes advance care planning through training, education, and public awareness.
Partnership with the community is at the heart of the program. Voice Your Choice supports community organizations and health care providers, as well as those they serve in understanding the importance of planning ahead by providing the tools and resources needed to think about, and list, health care wishes.
Planning ahead
Gives you a say in your care
Planning ahead
Reduces stress for those who matter most
Planning ahead
Helps health care providers know what you want
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance care planning is the process of identifying and documenting your health care wishes and values if you are unable to speak for yourself due to a serious illness or an emergency.
Advance care planning includes identifying and writing down your health care wishes and values, selecting a health care decision maker (called a health care agent or a health care proxy) to speak for you and represent your wishes if you are unable to speak for yourself, and sharing your wishes with those who matter most and your health care providers.
Advance care planning gives you the opportunity to understand your health care options, communicate your wishes and values, and make sure they are known. Without advance care planning, loved ones and health care providers may make decisions that don’t reflect your values and you could receive unwanted treatment or not receive the health care you want.
What is a Health Care Agent?
An important part of advance care planning is identifying someone who knows you, understands your health care wishes, and can share them with your medical providers if you are unable to speak for yourself. This person is called a health care agent.
When choosing a health care agent, you should first speak to the person you are considering to get their permission to take on this role. Nobody wants to be surprised in an emergency! Once your health care agent agrees, be sure to discuss with them what matters most to you, along with your wishes and values. It is also important to share your health care agent’s information with your those who matter most and health care providers.
