Advance directives ensure Veterans’ future care reflects their current wishes

At VA, Veterans typically have control and the final say in the kind of health care they receive. However, Veterans are sometimes unable to make these decisions and need help devising a plan to ensure that their future medical care reflects their current wishes.

As a virtual care provider, Heather Armstrong, who works with the Clinical Resource Hub at VISN 10, sees the benefits of offering Veterans the opportunity to address sensitive needs—like completing an Advance Directive—from the comfort of home.

Advance directives—sometimes called “living wills”—inform medical providers of a patient’s wishes if they cannot communicate. Doctors encourage all Veterans to make an advance directive and to ask for help if the forms seem intimidating.

Difficult conversations but good idea

“I encourage Veterans to have conversations about advance directives ahead of time with family members, particularly those they will select as their health care powers of attorney,” Armstrong said. “The conversations can be difficult but it is always a good idea to equip loved ones or those making decisions on your behalf with plans reflecting your health care preferences.”

Armstrong recommends that anyone looking to learn more about planning for future health care needs to check out the National Advance Care Planning via Group Visits (ACP-GV) Program, which creates a comfortable space for groups of Veterans, families and caregivers to discuss advance care planning. She also recommends Veterans ask their Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) social worker for additional information on Advance Care Planning.

PACT social workers are an invaluable resource for Veterans because they can lighten their burden. The VISN 10 CRH Social Work program virtually supports PACT teams across the region when they experience gaps in social work staff. The virtual social work program steps in to provide interim and timely support to Veterans to avoid delays in establishing important planning documents and more.

Clinical Resource Hubs are there to help

With Armstrong’s help, local sites can host virtual social work activities more efficiently. “I’ve been able to do a lot of phone and telehealth coverage. I’m just trying to get the word out about how much assistance we can provide to Veterans through virtual support of local PACT teams,” she added.

Whether Veterans need assistance with applying for VA benefits, outlining their wishes for an advance directive, or working with a care team to recover from a medical procedure, VA social workers and CRH are there to help.

For more on how Clinical Resource Hubs make a difference in VA health care, visit the Clinical Resource Hubs (CRH) website.