JAHF E-News | Nov 18, 2021

Is What Matters to You Today the Same as Two Years Ago?

Millions of people will travel to see friends and family in person over the upcoming holiday season, many for the first time in nearly two years. Our world and society have changed dramatically over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upheaval has led many to reevaluate their own hopes and expectations for the future.

Now is a good time to talk about what matters to you with those who care about you, especially related to your health and care needs as you age. It’s also an opportunity to have conversations with people whose care you may be responsible for.

Whether you are a clinician or other professional working with older adults, or you are considering what matters in your own personal life, here are resources to help begin or facilitate these sometimes difficult conversations.

• Take control of your future care needs with resources from Next Avenue, based on the PBS documentary Fast-Forward, along with a series on long-term care that includes helpful information on housing options as you age.
• Read and share this WebMD article by JAHF President Terry Fulmer about the importance of documenting and sharing your wishes for care should you become seriously ill.
• Use workbooks from The Conversation Project to help start discussions with your family, identify a health care proxy and more.   
• Draft advance directives using resources from Prepare for Your Care, Five Wishes and National POLST.
• Learn about shared decision making and care for people with serious illness from FAIR Health.
• Follow the step-by-step process in My Health Priorities to decide what matters most to you when managing complex health conditions, and if you are a clinician, learn how to implement Patient Priorities Care in your practice.