September 20, 2000

To the Editor:

As the American population of aged people grows, public awareness of death, dying, and issues faced at the end of life is increasing. And with the broadcast of "On Our Own Terms: Moyers on Dying," a series hosted by Bill Moyers on PBS stations in mid-September, these issues will undoubtedly be in our minds and hearts this month.

We all need to tell family and loved ones our wishes for our own end-of-life care. The Illinois Council on Long Term Care encourages consideration of this very important, but often overlooked, option -- an advance directive. Currently, 80 percent of our nursing home population has completed advance directives, compared with only 20 percent in the general population.

You don't need to wait for advanced age to complete an advance directive. Advance directives offer control over health decisions at the end of life. These written documents state our wishes about our health and health care for direction at a later time when we're unable to make these decisions. The two primary types of advance directive documents used in Illinois are: Health Care Power of Attorney, which enables us to appoint another person control over health decisions when we become unable to; and Living Will, which allows us to control what life-sustaining measures will be taken as our health deteriorates.

Examples of advance directives documents and resources for creating your own are available on the Council's Web site at www.nursinghome.org. It is now, when we are healthy and happy, that we must consider these issues. Doing so is an empowering way to feel peaceful and in control of an issue about which many feel frightened and unfamiliar.

Terrence P. Sullivan, M.S.
Executive Director
Illinois Council on Long Term Care