With National HealthCare Decisions Day behind us, it is time to look forward and think about our own plans and decisions on HealthCare.

It is important to make early decisions about your healthcare desires, and Director of Social Services for Guthrie County Hospital, Jennifer Kesler explains why, “you never know when you’re going to be faced with a hospitalization, or be in a situation where you’re unable to make healthcare decisions yourself, accidents do happen unfortunately and so I think it’s important that everyone 18 years or older have advanced directive and a living will on file with their doctor and at the hospital of choice.”

In the state of Iowa any adult 18 years of age or older can set up an advanced directive, and Kesler says, anybody 18 years or older should have an advanced directive.

These advanced directives help you to make decisions about your healthcare in the event that you are not able to make them yourself.

If you are looking to set up an advanced directive, you can contact Kesler at 641and she will help you set one up. Kesler says, “they are free of charge and we can set up an advanced directive, living will or a Durable Power of Attorney.”

She does warn though that for anything financial you would need to speak with an attorney.