“Knowing my husband’s wishes made it so much easier for me and my family,” said Lee Watanabe, who worked for many years with the County of Hawaii. “About five years ago, my husband had a stroke, and with therapy, he was making progress … he was getting better.” she said. “But a week later, he had another stroke and his doctor said that he would be in a vegetative state the rest of his life.
“Fortunately, we had on multiple occasions discussed this possible scenario, and my husband always said that if it ever gets to that point of being in a vegetative state, ‘Don’t let me live that way.’ My family and I understood his wishes. It made it so much easier for us to make the decision to not prolong his life in this vegetative state. He was provided comfort care, and we were able to respect his wishes without any guilt.”
When Watanabe attended Community First’s workshop on advanced health care directives, she was reminded about the importance of having one’s wishes in writing. Most important is to discuss it with family members now, rather than waiting until a crisis arises.
She said it gives her a sense of relief to have completed her own advance health care directive, and she encourages everyone to have theirs done. She said she found it reassuring to know that changes can be made at any time by completing a new document.
In May, Community First will host two workshops.
The first will be 6-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the Hawaii County Aging and Disability Resource Center, 1055 Kinoole St. Register online at CommunityFirst Hawaii.org/registration or call Tony Kent, 292-4559 or Amy Hamane, 935-1500.
The second workshop will be held 7-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, at Cooper Center in Volcano.
To register, call Sally Mermel, 967-7426.
Both sessions are free.
Charlene Iboshi, who chairs the advance directive committee, said: “Let us help you complete your advance health care directive that documents your end-of-life wishes. Most of the individuals who attend our workshop are able to complete their AHCD that day. We provide a step-by-step presentation and provide all of the materials. When completed, it will be a legal document. An optional follow-up session is held two weeks later for those who need more time.
“At the workshop, participants will select their health care power of attorney — an ‘agent’ and an ‘alternate agent.’”
Iboshi encouraged those planning to attend to bring the following information about the two people that they would like to their agent and alternate agent: Name, street address, home phone, cell phone and email address.
For individuals who already have a living will, a health care power of attorney, or an advance health care directive, the presentation can help folks review their document to be sure it meets their needs today, according to Iboshi.
