Why Use the Registry?
The Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry securely stores your directives for easy access by healthcare providers and loved ones.

How to Register:

• Visit Arizona Healthcare Directives Registry.

• Submit completed forms securely.

Resources for Assistance:

• Arizona Attorney General’s Office: (602) 542-2123

• Aging and Adult Services in Arizona: 1-877-767-2385

What Is a DNR?
A DNR directive communicates your wish to avoid CPR or life support outside a hospital setting.

Key Requirements:

• Signed by you and your physician.

• Printed on bright orange paper for visibility.

Important Notes:

• Applies only in prehospital settings.

• Does not affect comfort or pain management interventions.

What Is an MHPOA?
An MHPOA designates someone to make mental health treatment decisions if you are unable.

Key Features:

• Covers hospitalization, medications, and therapies.

• Activated only when you are deemed incapable of making informed decisions.

Why It’s Important:

• Ensures continuity of care during mental health crises.

• Respects your autonomy.

Limitations:

• Does not apply to non-mental health treatments.

• Cannot violate Arizona laws or explicitly stated preferences.

What Is an HCPOA?
An HCPOA lets you appoint an agent to make healthcare decisions when you're unable to do so.

When Does It Apply?

• You are incapacitated.

• A doctor determines you cannot make decisions.

Choosing the Right Agent:
Look for someone trustworthy, familiar with your values, emotionally stable, and comfortable advocating for you.

How It Complements a Living Will:
While a Living Will specifies treatments, an HCPOA offers flexibility for unforeseen medical situations.

What Is a Living Will?
A Living Will outlines your preferences for medical treatments like life support, CPR, or palliative care if you’re unable to decide for yourself.

Key Features of a Living Will:

• Covers scenarios like terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness.

• Includes preferences for life-sustaining treatments, artificial nutrition, and pain management.

Why It’s Important:

• Ensures your wishes are respected.

• Reduces emotional stress for loved ones.

• Provides clarity for medical professionals.

Tips for Creating a Living Will:
Reflect on your values, consult healthcare providers, and keep the document updated and accessible.

What Are Advanced Directives?
Advanced directives are legal documents that outline your medical care preferences if you're unable to make decisions yourself. They ensure your wishes are respected, reduce stress for loved ones, and provide clarity for healthcare providers.

Types of Advanced Directives:

1. Living Will – Specifies your medical treatment preferences in specific conditions.

2. Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA) – Appoints someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf.

3. Mental Healthcare Power of Attorney (MHPOA) – Designates a trusted individual to manage mental health treatment decisions.

4. Prehospital Medical Care Directive (DNR) – Communicates your wish to forgo resuscitation outside a hospital setting.

Learn how these directives work together to create a comprehensive care plan.

The holiday season is a magical time, filled with joy, celebrations, and a flurry of activities. Yet, it’s also a time when our health and well-being can take a backseat to the hustle and bustle. This year, let’s flip the script and prioritize self-care to make the most of this special season! Here are a few simple, practical tips to keep your body and spirit thriving through the holidays:

1. Stay Active: Turn Festivities into Fitness!

Who says exercise can’t be fun? Take a brisk walk through your neighborhood and admire the twinkling holiday lights, or gather friends and family for a casual game of tag in the yard. Daily movement not only keeps you energized but also helps you manage those extra servings of mashed potatoes and pie!

2. Practice Mindful Eating: Taste the Joy, Not the Guilt

Holiday treats are meant to be savored—but in moderation. Instead of piling your plate high, opt for smaller portions and truly enjoy the flavors. If you’re attending a potluck, bring a healthy dish to share. And remember, it’s okay to say “no, thank you” to a second slice of cake.

3. Manage Stress: Recharge Your Inner Light

The holiday rush can be overwhelming, so it’s important to pause and reflect. Set aside time for prayer, meditation, or quiet moments with loved ones. Whether it’s lighting a candle and saying a prayer, journaling your blessings, or simply enjoying a cup of tea in peace, these moments can ground and refresh you.

4. Wash Your Hands: A Simple Act of Care

Cold and flu season is no match for good hygiene. Frequent handwashing protects you and those around you. Keep a travel-sized hand sanitizer handy for when soap and water aren’t available. This small act shows love and consideration for everyone you’ll be hugging this holiday season!

Make This Season One of Health and Happiness

With just a few thoughtful choices, you can embrace the joy of the holidays without sacrificing your well-being. Stay active, enjoy holiday treats mindfully, take care of your mental health, and keep those hands clean. Let’s make this season not just merry and bright, but healthy and vibrant too!

Rebuilding Together - Valley of the Sun (RTVOS) offers a variety of programs designed to provide critical home repairs and safety modifications to low-income homeowners in Maricopa County. Their services primarily assist seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and families with children.

Their main offerings include:

• Safe at Home Program: Focused on fall and fire prevention, this program includes home safety assessments and installations such as grab bars, handheld shower heads, smoke detectors, and wheelchair ramps. The goal is to enhance accessibility and safety, particularly for those aging in place or with mobility challenges​.

• Critical Home Repairs: This includes essential home repairs, such as roof and plumbing fixes, HVAC repair, weatherization, and bathroom accessibility improvements. These repairs ensure that homes remain habitable and safe​.

• Community and Neighborhood Revitalization: RTVOS also works on revitalizing community spaces and neighborhoods through special events, improving public parks, and renovating nonprofit facilities​.

These services are provided free of charge to eligible homeowners, thanks to community partnerships and volunteer efforts. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and all programs require income verification​. For more details, you can visit their website.

A Must-Have Safety Feature for People Who Live Alone
By Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek

Many of our parishioners who live alone have experienced falls or other incapacitating events, leaving them unable to call for help for extended periods. To prevent such tragedies, Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek, a retired priest from The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona, recommends Snug Safety, a free app designed for seniors living alone. The app checks in daily and alerts emergency contacts if there’s no response, helping ensure timely assistance.

Rev. Dombek recalls a parishioner who fell and couldn’t reach his Life Alert button, leaving him immobile for days. Snug’s basic free plan could have reduced that time by notifying emergency contacts if a check-in is missed. For more robust coverage, the paid version includes a dispatcher who will call the user and escalate to emergency services if necessary.

If you live alone, Rev. Dombek urges you to download the app for peace of mind and possibly save your life.

Health & Wellness Ministry | Saint Matthew's Episcopal Church
Our Health & Wellness Ministry promotes holistic well-being by enhancing physical, mental, and spiritual health. Through education, support, and community engagement, we foster self-awareness, preventative care, and interconnectedness within our Faith Community, empowering individuals to achieve lasting wellness and wholeness. Join us in nurturing body, mind, and spirit for a healthier, more balanced life.