Terri Schiavo’s story served as a wake-up call for many to prepare and discuss their living wills and health care power of attorneys with their families.

“There’s a heightened interest in the subject right now,” said Sharon Emanuelson, director of marketing and public relations for Kishwaukee Community Hospital, 626 Bethany Road. “We’ve been getting quite a few phone calls from people wanting to know how they can get a living will.”

A health care power of attorney is when an individual is appointed to act on behalf of a person in case he or she is incapacitated, Sycamore attorney Charles Cronauer said. It designates how the nominated person should act.

A living will is a directive given to a third party about what is to happen to them when they are incapacitated, Cronauer said.

Living wills are used when the person nominated in a health care power of attorney cannot be found or refuses to act on behalf of the incapacitated person, he said. A living will must be signed by two witnesses, and a power of attorney must be signed by one witness.

In response to people’s queries, Kishwaukee Community Hospital is providing one-on-one counseling with nurses from their continuity of care staff and social workers.

The hospital will provide forms and have staff available to serve as witnesses, Emanuelson said.

It is important for people to discuss their wishes with their family members, including young adults, Emanuelson said.

In the absence of a living will, a lawsuit is filed and a determination has to be made about what the incapacitated person’s decision would have been, Cronauer said.

Forms can be downloaded at www.kishhospital.org/hospital/safety/important-info.html.