HGH to present seminar on 'Advance Directives'

Expert presenter also will cover durable powers of attorney

WINNEMUCCA - Next week, Humboldt General Hospital will sponsor a community education seminar designed to help local residents understand their rights with regard to the issues of dying.

The Advance Directives presentation will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the Sarah Winnemucca Conference Room at Humboldt General Hospital, located at 118 E. Haskell St. in Winnemucca.

Lora Myles, attorney for the RSVP Carson and Rural Elder (CARE) Law Program, will present information regarding the legal issues surrounding Advance Directives as well as guardianships, durable power of attorney and the different ways to fund nursing home stays.

According to HGH Social Services Director Laura Nelson, the presentation is open to all community members with the end goal of helping residents make their most informed choices with regard to the issues of dying.

"Advance Directives will allow individuals to state in advance what kinds of medical treatment they want or don't want to receive in the future," she said.

Nelson said the presentation is not just for those who are currently ill. She said, "This is also for those who may have, in the future, any special, serious medical conditions that would prevent communication with their attending physician."

Nelson said preparing an Advance Directive now can be viewed as one of the final and most important gifts given to loved ones.

"This removes the burden of decision from loved ones," she said, "and assures that the individual's wishes are followed."

She added, "We encourage each person to exercise their rights to make choices surrounding the issues of dying."

Those who attend the Dec. 18 presentation will have the chance to prepare an Advance Directive using the document format approved by the federal and state government; a notary also will be available for those who wish to prepare an Advance Directive.

There is no charge to attend or to prepare an Advance Directive document.

For more information, call Laura Nelson at Humboldt General Hospital, Social Work Department, at (775) 623-5222, ext 1440.[[In-content Ad]]