Local Organizations Unite To Offer Free Assistance To Execute “Medical Wills”
El Paso County Attorney's Office and the University Medical Center of El Paso are partnering with the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) to promote the use of Advance Medical Directives (“medical wills”) in the community, particularly among the beneficiaries of public housing programs in El Paso County.
The pilot program was created to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of
advance care planning.
As part of the campaign to promote the use of the “living wills,” attorneys from the County Attorney’s Office, and volunteers from the University Medical Center will be offering free
assistance regarding advance care planning and advance directive forms on
Tuesday August 19, 2014, from
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the
Sun Plaza Complex, 1221 San Antonio.
All residents of El Paso County are encouraged to come and get assistance
drafting their advance directives forms.
Advance directives are legal
documents that allow you to convey your decisions about end-of-life care ahead
of time. They provide a way for you to communicate your wishes to family,
friends, and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.
A
Directive to Physicians or Living Will tells how you feel about care intended to sustain life. You
can accept or refuse medical care. There are many issues to address, including:
- The
use of dialysis and breathing machines
- If
you want to be resuscitated if breathing or heartbeat stops
- Tube
feeding
- Organ
or tissue donation
- Blood
transfusions
A
Medical Power of Attorney allows
individuals to designate someone they trust to make health decisions if they
are unable to do so.
As part of
the program, the participating organizations will host similar events every
month at different HACEP locations around El Paso. The
events are open to the general public.
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September
17, 2014
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Hervey
Community
4949
Alps
El
Paso, TX 79904
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October
16, 2014
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Father
Pinto
1001
S. Ochoa St.
El
Paso, TX 79901
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November
13, 2014
3:30
- 5:30 p.m.
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Alamito
Terrace Community
509
St. Vrain
El
Paso, TX 79901
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December
6, 2014
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Baines Community
10661 Vista Del Sol
El Paso, TX 79935
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January
20, 2015
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Father
Ochoa
8820
Old County Rd.
El Paso, TX 79907
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February
4, 2015
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Williams,
Machuca Communities
1039
Sunland Park
El
Paso, TX 79922
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March
13, 2015
2:00
- 4:00 p.m.
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Tays
Community
2201
San Antonio St.
El
Paso, TX 79905
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April 7, 2015
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
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Paisano Green Community
4000
E. Paisano St.
El Paso, TX 79905
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Individuals interested in getting the Directive to Physicians
and Medical Power of Attorney forms can download them by visiting the County
Attorney’s web page at www.epcounty.com/ca. The forms are
available in both English and Spanish.
WHO: Volunteers
from the County Attorney’s Office and UMC
WHAT: Free Assistance in drafting “Living Wills”
WHEN: Tuesday, August 19, 2014, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Sun
Plaza Complex, 1221 San Antonio
2014 Living Wills Campaign Press Release 4.pdf