The Healthcare Proxy Helpline

Published by EOLCNY Communications at May 20, 2020

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Please note: Our Healthcare Proxy Helpline is no longer active. However, we still offer free assistance with completing advance directives. For more information, please visit our counseling page here: http://endoflifechoicesny.org/counseling/

End of Life Choices New York, in collaboration with The Completed Life Initiative, has developed The Healthcare Proxy Helpline. This FREE service was created to provide support to New Yorkers as they complete the New York State Health Care Proxy Form. In this time of COVID-19, it is essential to appoint someone you trust as your Health Care Agent to communicate you medical wishes if you lose the ability to do so yourself. By completing this form, and discussing your wishes with your Health Care Agent, you ensure your wishes will be known and honored.

You can schedule an appointment to speak (via phone or video chat) with one of our trained Advance Directive Advocates, who will guide you through the form, answer any questions you may have, and serve as witnesses to the form signing over video chat (if needed). Thanks to the extension of Executive Order 202.14 (which EOLCNY successful advocated for), signing and witnessing of these forms via video chat is currently available until June 6th.

We believe everyone 18 years of age or older should have a completed health care proxy form. However, only approximately one third of New Yorkers have a completed advance directive. It is critical that the form be completed before a person becomes ill; by the time a person is hospitalized with COVID-19 or other illnesses they may be too sick to communicate their wishes. The Healthcare Proxy Helpline is here for all New Yorkers, and is particularly helpful for those hardest hit by, COVID-19, including older adults, essential workers, and communities of color.

We are asking for your help to raise awareness of The Healthcare Proxy Helpline! We hope to help at least 100 New Yorkers complete their health care proxy forms by June 6th!. We produced three videos (below) to spread the word. Please watch, share with your network, and post on your social media!