Throughout the coming year, LVMC will host a series of sessions on advance directives. The sessions will be presented by Susannah Fenton, Senior Connection program manager for the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging.

The programs on advance healthcare planning will be held 3-5 p.m. Jan. 23; 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 23; 10 a.m.-noon on Aug. 27, and 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, all at LVMC’s Ocean’s Seven Café, 1515 E. Ocean Ave.

Fenton will speak about Advance Healthcare Directives, which include two types of legally recognized documents called a “living will” and a “healthcare power of attorney.” Topics will include:

» Understanding Advance Healthcare Planning and Advance Directive documents.

» Considerations in choosing a healthcare agent to make decisions on one’s behalf.

» Identifying values and goals regarding comfort and medical treatment choices.

» Communicating end-of-life wishes to loved ones and healthcare providers.

An attorney is not needed to fill out advance directives, which primarily protect a person’s right to decide what types of medical care they would or would not desire, in the event they lose the ability to make decisions for themselves.

— Nora K. Wallace for Lompoc Valley Medical Center.