Inside this 8-week program, you will…
Making medical decisions for someone you love living with dementia isn’t just hard—it’s overwhelming.
Protect their quality of life and feel confident in your choices NOW!
Making medical decisions for someone you love living with dementia isn’t just hard—it’s overwhelming.
You want to protect their quality of life and feel confident in your choices, but too often, you’re left juggling unanswered questions, conflicting emotions, and frustration inside a healthcare system that offers little to no guidance.
You may be tempted to “just figure it out later,” but waiting often leads to rushed, emotional decisions you may come to regret. Instead, with the right preparation, you can make informed choices you feel good about—now and into the future.
Feel ready to make medical decisions for someone you love living with dementia — without all the second-guessing.
You didn’t choose this role, but you can choose to feel confident in it.
The healthcare system doesn’t slow down to walk you through what’s coming.
But with a clear plan, you can show up for your person calm, informed, and ready to advocate for what matters most to them.
Created by ER Physician Dr. Brittany Lamb, who has guided thousands of families through
dementia-related medical decisions since 2014.
The healthcare system wasn’t built with you —the decision-maker — in mind.
Doctors rarely have time to walk families through what’s most likely to happen or how to prepare. Being told to “get your affairs in order” and “Check out ALZ.org” is not enough support when it comes to getting you ready to make medical decisions for someone you love…
Meanwhile, real life keeps moving.
The phone rings at 2 a.m. Your loved one is sick or has fallen. The ER team is waiting for your decision. And you’re supposed to figure it out on the spot… with Google searches, vague paperwork, and adrenaline as your only tools.
Without a plan for your future decisions, YOU are left:
Falling down late-night Google rabbit holes, only to realize most of what you find doesn’t actually apply to your person’s situation.
Unsure what to even ask during medical visits, or how to advocate for care that actually aligns with what your loved one would want.
Reacting instead of knowing you’re prepared —then questioning yourself after each decision, wondering, “Did I do the right thing?”
This ongoing uncertainty doesn’t just weigh on your mind. It seeps into your confidence, your sleep, your relationships… even your own health.
And here’s the part nobody inside the healthcare system is telling you:
- Advance directives alone aren’t enough to guide the dozens of decisions you’ll face over time.
- You have more say in what happens than most caregivers realize.
- The kinds of decisions you’ll face are foreseeable. Planning is absolutely possible.
So what if, instead of waiting for something to happen, you had a step-by-step roadmap?
Something that gave you peace of mind, helped you feel in control, and took the guesswork out of medical decision-making?
A process that reduces stress and ensures the choices you make truly reflect what your person would want.
Imagine walking into the ER, a doctor’s office, or a hospital, not with your stomach in knots, but with a calm, clear plan in hand.
You know what your person would want. You know what questions to ask. And instead of reacting in the moment, you’re steady, clear, and confident in the choices you make.
That’s what changes when you have the right tools and guidance:
- You trust your decisions because you finally understand the options.
- You know how to speak up for your person’s goals and values, even under pressure.
- You can focus on being their family again, not just their decision-maker.
Inside Make Your Plan,
you’ll get lifetime access to:
- 🩺 Straightforward, jargon-free, dementia-specific medical information — Clear explanations of the most likely treatment decisions you’ll face and the exact questions to ask along the way.
- 📝 A step-by-step planning framework — Learn how to organize your person’s medical history, set their goal of care, and use it to create a flexible plan for the medical decisions you’ll make.
- 💬 Physician insight you can trust — Learn from someone who’s guided thousands of families through real medical decisions and knows what caregivers actually face.
This isn’t another vague checklist or a pile of forms. It’s a physician-created roadmap to help you make thoughtful, informed decisions with confidence.
With a structured plan, you’ll stop spinning in “what ifs” and free up the mental space to focus on what truly matters: being present with your loved one, and taking care of yourself, too.
Hi there!
I’m Dr. Brittany Lamb, an ER and hospice physician with over a decade of experience helping families make medical decisions for their loved ones – often in situations that could have been less stressful with the right preparation.
After years in the ER, I saw the same story repeat: decision-makers forced to make tough medical decisions without the time or guidance they deserve. When my mother-in-law began asking me questions after her mom’s dementia diagnosis, I knew something had to change.
Here’s what I want you to know: you are capable of making these decisions and feeling good about them. What’s missing is the guidance you should be getting but aren’t, because the healthcare system just doesn’t give families the time or support they deserve.
That’s why I created Make Your Plan: to give you the same clear frameworks, medical insight, and language I use with families in the ER every day, so you can make thoughtful medical decisions with confidence, clarity, and peace of mind.
INTRODUCING
Make your Plan
with Dr. Lamb
A clear, physician-led program that helps you feel calm, capable, and prepared to make medical decisions for someone you love living with dementia.
You’ll get instant access to all 8 parts of the program, so you can start where it matters most for your situation.
Most participants finish in about 8 weeks, but you can move faster or slower depending on your life and your person’s situation.
With lifetime access, the lessons and tools will always be there as things change — no deadlines, no pressure.
Step into your role with clarity and confidence.
Know what being a medical decision-maker really means, what you can control, and how to prepare yourself — without losing sight of your own well-being.
Set your loved one’s goal of care.
This is the foundation doctors rely on to make recommendations. You’ll learn how to define and communicate it clearly so every decision aligns with what matters most to your person.
Understand the medical issues you’re most likely to face.
Learn how dementia changes the way illnesses show up, how doctors test for and diagnose them, and what treatment options usually look like—so you can connect those choices back to your person’s goal of care.
Create your medical decision plan
Use your person’s medical history, quality-of-life values, and goal of care to build a flexible plan outlining how you’d approach the most likely medical situations ahead.
Communicate with doctors and care teams
Understand what forms like DNRs, POLST, and advance directives can and can’t do, and learn how to talk with medical professionals so they listen, respect your input, and help you choose care that aligns with your person’s wishes.
Plus…
Upgrade for Personalized Physician Support
BECAUSE…
Everyone’s situation is different.
If you choose the Personal Support option, I’ll personally review your situation and record tailored recommendations to help you focus on what matters most right now.
You’ll get specific next steps, guidance for key conversations to have, and direction on how to navigate the healthcare system with confidence, both today and in the future. Many participants return months or even years later for additional support, and that door remains open for you, too.
What to prioritize learning about now.
Key conversations to have with your loved one and family.
Lessons in the course that are most relevant to your situation.
Questions to ask your loved one’s care team.
What makes this program different?
What makes this program different? This isn’t just another caregiving resource – it’s one of a kind.
A Clear, Trusted Path for Dementia Medical Decision-Makers
Because you and your person deserve more than ‘Wait and See’
This isn’t just another caregiving resource …it’s built for the real-world decisions you’ll face as a dementia medical decision-maker.
A Physician-Created Process You Can Trust
As an ER physician who’s been helping families navigate medical decisions since 2014, I’ve seen exactly where caregivers get stuck and how easily the system leaves them without answers. This program comes from those real experiences (not theory or guesswork), so everything you learn is practical and grounded in reality.
Created Specifically for Dementia Decision-Makers
Most medical decision-making advice doesn’t consider how dementia changes what’s medically possible or appropriate. Every lesson in this program does. You’ll learn how dementia affects identifying, diagnosing, and treating common medical issues so you can make decisions that align with what your person would want.
A Framework That Works in Every Situation
No more guessing or scrambling. You’ll learn a repeatable process that helps you make clear, informed choices during everyday care, emergencies, and future planning—without second-guessing yourself later.
Lifetime Access and Real Support
As your person’s needs evolve, you can revisit the lessons anytime. You’ll also have ongoing email support from me, so you’re never left trying to figure things out alone.
Personalized Guidance (Optional Upgrade)
If you choose the Personal Support option, I’ll personally review your loved one’s medical history and your role as decision-maker. You’ll get a recorded analysis highlighting what to focus on now and how to prepare for what’s next, with ongoing access to reach out as things change.
Take Back Control and Focus on
What Matters Most
It’s late at night in the ER. A doctor turns to you with a serious look and asks a question you weren’t expecting. Your mind races. You know what matters to your loved one, but you don’t know what to ask or say next.
I’ve watched that moment unfold countless times – sons clutching their phones, spouses frozen mid-sentence. It’s just one example of a crossroads moment every medical decision-maker eventually faces, made even harder by a system that doesn’t give them the guidance they deserve.
That’s why preparation matters. With the right tools and support, you can walk into these moments feeling steady and clear.
When you’re prepared, you can:
- Make thoughtful, informed decisions that align with your loved one’s values.
- Stop second-guessing yourself because you know you’ve asked the right questions and explored the right options.
- Protect your time and energy so you can focus on the people and priorities that matter most.
- Be present as their family member, no longer consumed by the weight of uncertainty.
Here’s What You’ll Gain with Lifetime Access to This Program:
- The complete 8-module, self-paced course, guiding you step by step.
- A clear, repeatable framework for decision-making in any situation.
- Personalized recommendations tailored to your loved one’s unique needs. (Included in the personal support option)
- Practical tools to advocate confidently and effectively.
- The peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared for what’s ahead.
Choose the Option That Works Best for You:
Independent Study
$397
One Time Fee
(Flexible payment options available)
Perfect for those who want to work at their own pace with guidance along the way.
You’ll get:
- Full 8-Part Program — Build confidence by preparing for the most likely medical decisions ahead.
- Lifetime Access — Revisit the lessons anytime as your loved one’s needs change..
- Email Support — Send questions as you go and get thoughtful, direct answers.
- Planning Spreadsheet — Keep everything organized in one place so nothing gets lost.
- Printable Guides — Bring the right questions with you to doctor visits, ER trips, and care meetings.
Personalized Support
$697
One Time Fee
(Flexible payment options available)
Ideal if you want more direct guidance from Dr. Lamb (that’s me) as you build your plan.
Everything in Independent Study, plus:
- Recorded Personalized Analysis — I’ll review your person’s medical history and your role as decision-maker, then record tailored recommendations to help you focus on what matters most right now.
- Ongoing support — You can reach out as your situation changes for continued, personalized insight
No matter which option you choose, you’ll walk away with clarity, structure, and peace of mind.
This is your chance to stop second-guessing and start feeling prepared for the decisions ahead.
Before you enroll …
I want you to feel confident this program is the right fit for you.
When you join Make Your Plan with Dr. Lamb, you’ll get full, instant access to all lessons, videos, and downloadable materials. Because of that, enrollment is non-refundable.
If you’re unsure whether this program is the right next step, please take a moment to review the details on this page or email me your questions first. I’ll give you an honest answer — even if that means recommending you wait or start somewhere else.
This program is for decision-makers who are ready to take action, learn, and start building a clear plan. If that’s you, I can’t wait to help you get started.
You deserve to feel steady and in control
Don’t let uncertainty keep running the show.
You can get clear on where to spend your time learning and taking action — so it actually makes a difference for your person and for you.
Because when you have a plan, you save time, prevent unnecessary stress, and create space to keep filling your own cup along the way.
Enrollment is open now. If you’ve been waiting for a clear next step, this is it. Let’s make sure you’re ready before the next decision lands in your lap.
FAQs
Yes. The moment you join, you’ll have full access to all 8 modules. You can dive in right away or take it step by step – whatever works best for your life and schedule.
You’ll have lifetime access to the entire program, including any future updates. Whether you need to come back in a few months or a few years, everything will be waiting for you.
Absolutely. Many caregivers email me with questions months or even years after joining. Your situation will change over time, and I want you to have a trusted place to turn when it does.
Think of this as the guidance most caregivers wish they’d had earlier. The insights and frameworks I teach would take dozens of appointments and a lot of time and energy to piece together on your own.
This program gives you a physician’s perspective tailored to dementia care, something legal documents and general caregiving advice can’t provide. It’s an investment in clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
Plan on about 1–2 hours a week to work through the lessons. Because the program is self-paced, you can move faster or slower depending on your season of life. The time you put in now will save you hours of confusion and second-guessing later.
Many caregivers feel that way at first—which is why the program is divided into short, focused lessons. I recommend starting at the beginning; each module builds on the last and includes guidance on what to focus on and what you can skip if it’s not relevant right now. The goal is to help you make steady progress without getting bogged down.
Actually, that’s the perfect time. Planning early gives you space to make thoughtful, informed choices before a crisis hits. And because you have lifetime access, the program will be there for you when new decisions arise.
This comes up often, especially when more than one person has legal decision-making authority or strong opinions about care.
Inside the program, you’ll learn how to clearly define your person’s goals and use those shared values to guide medical decisions — helping to prevent conflict before it starts. If your family wants to plan alongside you, additional logins are available for $97 each so everyone can access the materials and learn together.
If you anticipate ongoing disagreements or complicated family dynamics, I recommend choosing the Personalized Support option. That way, I can review your situation and offer more specific guidance tailored to your family’s needs.
And here’s one tip I always share:
When emotions run high, try to reframe the conversation by saying, “Let’s remember that we’re here to make the decision our person would make with this information — this isn’t about us.
No — not if you already have the legal right to make your person’s medical decisions. In most states, the “default medical decision-maker” follows a hierarchy: spouse, adult children (majority rules when possible), living parent, sibling, and then other relatives in order of relation.
If you’ve been officially named as your person’s medical decision-maker in an advance directive or legal document, you’ll absolutely benefit from this program, too. It helps you understand how to use that role to guide real medical choices — not just hold the paperwork.
Yes. I’ve built this program specifically for non-medical caregivers. Everything is explained in plain English, with printable handouts to help you apply what you learn. You don’t need a medical background — just the willingness to learn and prepare.
You Don’t Have to Keep Figuring This Out on Your Own
Caring for someone you love while making medical decisions that affect their day to day life is a lot to carry.
The truth is, most people are never given the guidance they need to do it well — and that’s exactly why I created Make Your Plan.
Inside, I’ll teach you how to prepare for the medical decisions your person is most likely to face, communicate clearly with medical professionals so everyone understands what matters most, and stay calm and level-headed when things get hard.
You’ll walk away with a plan you can trust — one that protects your person and your own peace of mind as time goes on.
Disclaimer:
By participating in this program, you understand that the Company is a licensed physician who is working in this role as a coach and educator.
This is for informational and educational purposes only. BLambMD LLC does not offer medical advice. Any content accessed through BLambMD LLC programs, courses, or services is for informational purposes only and is not intended to cover or otherwise be used as a substitute or supplement for the diagnosis of or treatment of any medical condition.
Avoid STRESS, OVERWHELM & UNCERTAINTY
MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS
WITH CONFIDENCE
Follow a roadmap and be prepared as a decision-maker for your person living with dementia.
Avoid STRESS, OVERWHELM & UNCERTAINTY
MAKE MEDICAL DECISIONS
WITH CONFIDENCE
Follow a roadmap and be prepared as a decision-maker for your person living with dementia.
Advocating for a Person Living with Dementia,
Speaking as their voice, considering what’s best, and then needing to make their medical decisions can easily come with second guessing, regret, indecision, and stress.
As their decision maker you want…
Your person to have the best care possible…
To have confidence and peace of mind knowing you are making the right decisions…
To feel seen, heard, and understood by your person’s physicians…
But here’s the thing…
Our healthcare system is not set up to give professionals the time it takes to teach you what you need to know.
Fortunately, the weight you are carrying around about the uncertainty or concern you feel towards making your person’s medical decisions is not something you have to live with.
In order to prevent unnecessary stress, avoid second guessing, and keep your peace of mind, it is imperative that you prepare for your person’s future by creating a plan.
Let me be direct for a moment,
Planning for your person’s future medical issues and the decisions you will have to make for them is not the only solution to all dementia related problems.
But it IS a powerful solution to you no longer living in uncertainty and worry about your person’s future.
Planning allows you to offload this weight from yourself and anyone else who will be helping you make decisions for your person.
Why?
It’s simple…
What’s Inside Make Your Plan with Dr. Lamb
Accordion Content
In this Module, we’re going to get super clear on what it means to make medical decisions for someone else.
Module 1 Highlights:
- Learn the one rule you must follow as a medical decision maker.
- I’ll show you the missteps caregivers and decision makers often make so you can avoid them.
- Tackle the topic of capacity so you will know when you’re actually able to make your person’s medical decisions and you can do so with confidence.
Accordion Content
This Module is all about considering other steps you’ll need to tackle before, or alongside, creating your medical decision plan.
Including:
- Legal Planning.
- Financial Planning.
- Mindset work & resources you may want to look into now before you need them.
- Why you must, and how to, gather your person’s medical history.
Accordion Content
In this Module we’re going to develop a cornerstone in your plan by identifying your person’s overall goal in their care so you can choose treatment without feeling overwhelmed.
Module 3 will teach you:
- What the three goals of care are and how we all fall into one of them.
- Understanding that even if you can not directly discuss any of this with your person, you will need to decide on their behalf.
- The importance of understanding what “living” means to your person.
- How to use your person’s value of quality of life to determine their overall goal.
- A process for determining when their goal may change.
Accordion Content
Now that you have identified your person’s goals of care and gathered their medical history, it is time to start learning how you can plan to make decisions on their behalf now and into the future.
In Module 4 you’ll learn:
- My process for keeping your Medical Decision Plan organized.
- A step-by-step framework for making any medical decision.
- My 3-step process for checking in to make sure your Medical Decision Plan does not need to be updated.
Accordion Content
In Module 5 we are going to dive into the medical issues your person is likely to face because they have been diagnosed with a disease causing dementia.
We will cover common injuries, infections (UTI, pneumonia etc.), and other medical issues like difficulty swallowing and delirium.
They are broken up by condition. so that If and when these issues happen to your person in the future, you can log back into the course and review this info so you feel informed and prepared for what’s at hand.
For each condition you will learn:
- What the symptoms look like.
- What we do to diagnose the condition.
- The most common treatment options to choose from most to least aggressive.
- Whether the condition can cause someone to be critically ill (aka very sick or injured and in need of care inside the hospital.
- Questions you should ask the care team.
- How things could present differently or be more complicated to diagnose due to your person’s dementia symptoms.
Accordion Content
This Module is beneficial for both your person living with dementia and YOU.
In Module 6, you’ll learn to improve your communication skills and make better use of conversations with your person’s care team so you can make decisions with more peace of mind and confidence.
AND we’ll take a deep dive into common medical emergencies including:
- Stroke.
- TIA (aka “mini stroke”)
- Heart attacks.
- Heart Failure.
- Atrial Fibrillation.
- Kidney injuries vs Failure.
- Appendicitis, Diverticulitis, & Small Bowel Obstruction.
- Syncope (aka “passing out”)
Accordion Content
As your person’s advocate you will need to understand terms like sepsis, intubation, and code status.
Inside Module 7 I will teach you, in plain language, about the major decisions people have to make quickly when their person becomes critically ill.
Module 7 Highlights:
- Ways to recognize your person is critically ill (sometimes it is not as obvious as you might think).
- Knowing what questions to ask the team.
- Understanding care in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).
- How to prevent delirium in your person.
Accordion Content
You will be the number one asset to your person when using the Medical Decision Plan you have created, but there are a few other tools, services, and resources you’ll need to be aware of.
Including:
- A process for reviewing your person’s medications and who to go to when you have questions about them.
- The difference between Palliative care and Hospice and when your person would qualify for these services based on their goals of care.
- When and how to use medical order forms, like the Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) form and POLST forms, and practical things you need to know about these documents.
” I am more confident…”
I’m more confident that I can and should take a more active role in guiding and selecting the medical care for my person. The goals of care section (Module 3) helped me a lot in that regard.
T., Weyrauch
” …easy to receive and doesn’t feel overwhelming!”
Dr. Lamb is no doubt knowledgeable on this topic and also extremely kind. Her advice and directives are easy to receive and don’t feel overwhelming!
Cassi Silveus
” Do it! Just do it!…”
Do it! Just do it! If you put your plan off until your LOWD is taken to the ER or hospitalized it will be way more stressful having to make medical decisions that may or may not be in the best interest, or according to the wishes of your LOWD, having a plan in place will help you make those decisions.
Pamela
” I do feel more knowledgeable…”
I do feel more knowledgeable about medical conditions and treatments. Taking the course drove home the point that I most likely will have to make some decisions in the future. I’m sure I won’t remember most the details of all of the medical problems and treatments but having an overview and knowing that the videos will continue to be available is very helpful to me.
Kristy L.
” A place to go look for information…”
I feel I have a place to go look for information and where to find the questions I should be aware of or asking when needed. It will make me a better decision maker once I make the time to work through all of it.
Carol H.
You’re not afraid to do something different. Learning from an ER physician online means you are tapping into an expert’s knowledge to uncover the language, processes, and tools needed to advocate for your person directly from someone who makes these types of decisions with families on a daily basis.
You recognize there is no “perfect time,” and waiting is not an answer. You know things can change quickly for someone living with dementia. You are fully aware there is a huge difference between making decisions you’ve had time to consider vs choosing in “crisis mode”.
Only YOU can decide to commit to learning and planning on behalf of your person. For what it’s worth, everything you learn in the program you can use in your own life.
Ready to Make Your Plan?
Until January 31st, Use CODE “2024” at Checkout for $100 OFF!
Make Medical Decisions You Can Feel Good About: A Physician-Created Process for Dementia Decision-Makers
Get the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make thoughtful, informed decisions for your loved one living with dementia.
Yes, absolutely. I have never read a Living Will or other healthcare directive which told me how to treat a patient in the ER. Advance directives are not a plan and simply are not enough. People rely on them too much. This is why what I am teaching you is needed. The Medical Decision Plan you create inside this program is in addition to your person’s advance directives. What you do inside this course is for you. You do not turn it into your person’s medical care team or their attorney. You use what you learn on their behalf when making decisions for them alone or with your family.
If you are your person’s legally declared medical decision maker (on a legal document such as a medical power of attorney form) it is up to you to make their healthcare choices. You can use what you learn here to support your decision making and explain to your family the WHY behind the decisions you are making. The same applies if your person did not declare someone as their decision maker and you have a legal right to make their decisions as their spouse/partner or a child. If you are part of a group of people deciding what to do on behalf of someone, you may not be able to make the final call, but this program will teach you to speak to the rationale behind what you are advocating for and will help you get your point across to your family and to the medical team.
This is common and normal. Do not expect the person living with dementia to discuss their future medical care. They may not be able to handle the complexity or the emotions of a conversation like this. I advise going at it in bite sized chunks and asking them one question at a time. You can make all of the decisions inside this program on their behalf speaking for them. You do not need to be able to discuss the decisions with them ahead of time in order to choose on their behalf.
Making medical decisions is hard, I know. I help people make tough choices every day. If it stresses you out now, it will be worse when you have to do it in real time, especially in the ER or the hospital. Take the time now to figure things out and you won’t regret it. Planning for the future does not just give you peace of mind. It also empowers you. It forces you to learn, which translates into the ability to make informed choices. As a result you feel more in control. As a bonus, the knowledge you gain can be used repeatedly for the rest of your life. Use it to help yourself in planning, or to advocate for other family, friends, or people in your community.
Yes! This is my passion. I love boiling things down into simple language that people can understand. I have to do this on a daily basis in the ER when people are under stress. One of my favorite things about what I do is the feeling I get when I realize the person is clear on what is going on and what our plan is. I put things into plain language while still teaching you words you will want to know so you can better communicate with medical professionals.
Nope, I am giving you what you need to know to be able to make the most common medical decisions you will be faced with plus a process to follow when asked to make a decision about any other medical situation. If you follow the process laid out in the course I am confident you will feel well prepared to make your person’s medical decisions using the plan you create and what you learn.
Yes! I have broken the course up into the sections I deliver to you for this reason. This is also why I recommend taking it week by week learning and implementing as you go. You can absolutely do this. I am sure you have had to make many hard decisions in your life and some under stress. Think back to those, they are not as easy and leave room for more second guessing. Not learning about what is likely to happen to your person and being left to decide on medical treatment options in crisis mode is going to be harder than taking action while going through this course.
When you enroll in the program you will be sent an email from Thinkific to sign up with a user name and password and then can immediately get started on Module 1.
Each week a new Module will open up. At the end of the 8 weeks, you’ll have access to go back to any section and re-watch as many times as you want.
The cost of the program includes lifetime access. I know you are busy and may be interrupted. I want you to be able to log back in at any time and re-watch a video or look at the resources that go along with it as you need to.
Inside the course you can reply to the emails I send to you each week if you have questions or feedback about what you are learning. I will answer as best I can there via email. Who knows, maybe it will inspire me to add another video training into the program. In full transparency, if you ask me a question which requires a lot of back and forth communication, or I feel an actual conversation is needed because it is too specific to your unique situation, I may tell you I can not answer without us having a formal phone consultation which is another service I offer.
Watching the lessons each week will be about an hour. Implementing some of the action items may take up more of your time, but will be well worth the effort. You’ll have lifetime access to the program so there is no rush to finish it within the first 8 weeks.
That is entirely up to you. The plan is for you, the decision maker. You can discuss it with family or your person if they are able and willing. Your person’s doctors should know their overall goal of care. You will likely have to tell them. They will not always ask. When decisions need to be made you can bring along your plan and use it to help you have a conversation with your person’s care team. The plan does not go inside your person’s medical record. It is not a legal document you have to file anywhere. It is for you to use to keep yourself organized and to make sure the treatments you are choosing line up with what your person would choose for themselves. It will help you advocate and know whether or not a treatment you are being offered is in line with your person’s goals.
Yes, absolutely. I have never read a Living Will or other healthcare directive which told me how to treat a patient in the ER. Advance directives are not a plan and simply are not enough. People rely on them too much. This is why what I am teaching you is needed. The Medical Decision Plan you create inside this program is in addition to your person’s advance directives. What you do inside this course is for you. You do not turn it into your person’s medical care team or their attorney. You use what you learn on their behalf when making decisions for them alone or with your family.
If you are your person’s legally declared medical decision maker (on a legal document such as a medical power of attorney form) it is up to you to make their healthcare choices. You can use what you learn here to support your decision making and explain to your family the WHY behind the decisions you are making. The same applies if your person did not declare someone as their decision maker and you have a legal right to make their decisions as their spouse/partner or a child. If you are part of a group of people deciding what to do on behalf of someone, you may not be able to make the final call, but this program will teach you to speak to the rationale behind what you are advocating for and will help you get your point across to your family and to the medical team.
This is common and normal. Do not expect the person living with dementia to discuss their future medical care. They may not be able to handle the complexity or the emotions of a conversation like this. I advise going at it in bite sized chunks and asking them one question at a time. You can make all of the decisions inside this program on their behalf speaking for them. You do not need to be able to discuss the decisions with them ahead of time in order to choose on their behalf.
Making medical decisions is hard, I know. I help people make tough choices every day. If it stresses you out now, it will be worse when you have to do it in real time, especially in the ER or the hospital. Take the time now to figure things out and you won’t regret it. Planning for the future does not just give you peace of mind. It also empowers you. It forces you to learn, which translates into the ability to make informed choices. As a result you feel more in control. As a bonus, the knowledge you gain can be used repeatedly for the rest of your life. Use it to help yourself in planning, or to advocate for other family, friends, or people in your community.
Yes! This is my passion. I love boiling things down into simple language that people can understand. I have to do this on a daily basis in the ER when people are under stress. One of my favorite things about what I do is the feeling I get when I realize the person is clear on what is going on and what our plan is. I put things into plain language while still teaching you words you will want to know so you can better communicate with medical professionals.
Nope, I am giving you what you need to know to be able to make the most common medical decisions you will be faced with plus a process to follow when asked to make a decision about any other medical situation. If you follow the process laid out in the course I am confident you will feel well prepared to make your person’s medical decisions using the plan you create and what you learn.
Yes! I have broken the course up into the sections I deliver to you for this reason. This is also why I recommend taking it week by week learning and implementing as you go. You can absolutely do this. I am sure you have had to make many hard decisions in your life and some under stress. Think back to those, they are not as easy and leave room for more second guessing. Not learning about what is likely to happen to your person and being left to decide on medical treatment options in crisis mode is going to be harder than taking action while going through this course.
When you enroll in the program you will be sent an email from Thinkific to sign up with a user name and password and then can immediately get started on Module 1.