Planning for the future is an idea Ohioans understand when it comes to their finances.  However, it is also an important concept that applies equally to medical and health care needs.   In Ohio, “advance directives forms” are available which allow us to share our health care preferences with medical professionals and loved ones.  While these forms are optional, we urge Ohioans to seriously consider completing them.  

To help Ohioans plan for their future health care needs, and to draw attention to advance directives forms and their use, the week of October 11 has been designated Ohio Advance Directives Week. 

Hospitals, all healthcare providers, lawyers and others are taking this opportunity to explain advance directives such as living wills and healthcare durable powers of attorney. The week celebrates the business of “living today, planning for tomorrow” by encouraging adults to put in writing the care they want to receive should they become unconscious, terminally ill or unable to communicate.

Ohioans may want to seek advice from their physicians or lawyers about executing these important life planning forms.  The Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offers an advance directives packet used to create a living will or health care durable power of attorney, or to designate organ or tissue donation. Ohioans can fill out these forms on their own and should make several copies for their personal files as well as to give to trusted family members, physicians, lawyers and others.

The lawyers of Ohio urge Ohioans to consider preparing living wills and health care durable powers of attorney.  They provide peace of mind for those who prepare them, and important instructions for those who are designated to execute them. 

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  To authenticate this statement, please contact Ken Brown, OSBA Director of Public & Media Relations, 800-282-6556 (toll free), 614-487-4426 (office), or 614/746-2457 (mobile).