Advanced Care Planning empowers you to have a voice in your care. 

I help you find your voice. 

 Katherine Cherian: Certified facilitator, Physical Therapist 

I help you clarify healthcare and senior living choices so you are prepared for how and where you want to age. 

 

As a certified facilitator for advanced care planning, I offer a safe space to listen and talk openly with you and the people close to you about some of the difficult but important choices ahead. 

What is advanced care planning?

At a basic level, advanced care planning involves completing a healthcare directive form, a legal document that outlines your medical decisions and states who is designated to make your decisions if you cannot. 

My approach to advanced care planning is a process that results in a mindful healthcare directive. Rather than just checking boxes, I take time to lead personalized exploratory conversations. The process is the same whether you are 18 or 98, but it will vary in complexity depending on your age and health. Your directive should be regularly updated to effectively voice the care that suits you . 

Why use a facilitator?

I have been trained to walk you through the advanced care planning process, so it is less overwhelming and more empowering.  

  • I take time to have a holistic approach

  • I outline the impact of treatment choices

  • I give you time to reflect and process

  • I make sure your family understands your choices

  • We form a relationship and change your document as often as you want. 

If you are a healthcare agent for a parent or loved one and want to increase your confidence to make their choices, I can coach family members to have these conversations. 

Everyone will need assistance at some point in aging.

I use my experience as a physical therapist to clarify senior care and living options and how to assess the fit for your family.  

What Clients Have Said

“Katherine was wonderful to work with. She made it comfortable talking about difficult decisions with family. She made us think about things we would not know to consider in completing the health care directive. The information she provided on options and questions to ask in researching home care and senior living was well organized and extremely helpful. I would highly recommend her as an excellent resource in planning for yourself or your family members.”

“You are making what could have been a confusing process straightforward and rewarding.”

“Katherine led a sensitive conversation with compassionate support and clearly articulated the issues we needed to consider. We are confident and glad we and our kids know our wishes.”

“We had wanted to complete the document for years, but felt overwhelmed by the process. Katherine’s approach of education and consultation was exactly what we needed. She coached us throught the process offering empathy and encouragement in just the right proportions. The end result is a document we are confident will ensure we receive the care we want if circumstances require it. We will continue to work with Katherine on regular updates to ensure our healthcare directive reflects our wants and needs.” 

FAQs

  • All adults over 18 should have a healthcare directive. Unfortunately, unexpected accidents, allergic reactions, or illnesses can create situations that require others to make medical decisions for us. Adults over 18 should designate the person to make those decisions and outline what is important to them now, in their current state of health. 

  • The document should be reviewed every 3-5 years if over 65 years old, or every 10 years. Regardless of age, everyone should update their healthcare directive if they have had one of the five “D’s”: Diagnosis that is new, Decline in health for you or your agent, Divorce or change in marital status, Death of someone who has impacted you. I am here to help you revise your preferences as you age. 

  • This depends on your level of readiness. You should have a copy of their healthcare directive. The document should have been completed (or reviewed) within 3-5 years if your parents are over 65 years old, or if it has not been reviewed within 10 years. Their wishes should be clear and detailed without vague or ambiguous statements. Even with a healthcare directive, you should have recent conversations to understand the essence of their desires since the document can’t cover all scenarios. You want to feel confident about your parents’ goals and your ability to advocate for their preferences. 

  • 70% of people over 65 will require some level of care in their lifetime. The conundrum is knowing when, to what degree, and for how long care will be needed. Being proactive and preparing for the need for assistance because of gradual changes in health or a sudden event, will reduce stress for you and your family. I am here to outline your options. 

  • No, not for legalizing a healthcare directive. Each state has specific forms and signature requirements, but they do not require a lawyer. This is different than a power of attorney for financial decisions.