2006 Press Releases
advance directives featured topic at rome memorial hospital’s may live & learn Program ROME –Rome Memorial Hospital will be providing information about advance directives – including health care proxies, do not resuscitate orders and living wills – to the public at its May Live & Learn program on Thursday, May 11, at 12:30 p.m. at the Ava Dorfman Senior Citizens Civic Center at 305 East Locust Street in Rome. Presenting the program is Rome Memorial Hospital’s Director of Social Services Lori Decker, L.M.S.W. “Thinking about decisions in advance and communicating them through formal advance directives can help alleviate some of the emotional turmoil families face when confronted with difficult medical decisions,” she said. With a healthcare proxy, Decker said, you can appoint someone you trust to act as your spokesperson about your medical treatment if you are unable to communicate your wishes yourself. A living will is a document that provides specific instruction about your treatment wishes. While it can be used alone, a living will is often more effective when used as a guideline for an appointed healthcare agent. “It’s easier for families to make decisions about life-prolonging interventions if they know what their loved ones would have chosen for themselves if they were able to communicate,” explained Decker. “Quite often, I watch families struggle asking questions such as ‘what would mom want?’ or ‘can I make this decision?’ or ‘What should I do? I don’t want to make this decision.’ Advance directives is one avenue to answer those thoughts,” she added. “I think it’s important to make advance preparations for your own medical care, no matter what your age is,” said Decker. “This helps the family, the patient and the medical team to make medical decisions during a very challenging time,” she added. Decker will hand out information packets about advance directives and participants will be able to obtain copies of the forms that the hospital makes available to its patients and residents. Decker has been with the hospital for 19 years as a social worker and has been director since 1997. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Syracuse University. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the Society for Social Work Leaders in Health Care. Pre-registration is not required to attend the program. | 
