Your Health, Your Wishes
Planning for the future is important at any age. Knowing your medical care wishes in the event of an accident or serious illness gives yourself and your loved ones’ peace of mind.
Advance care planning helps you discuss and prepare for future medical care choices if you are ever unable to communicate your wishes. Most important to this process is having meaningful conversations with those you love. Many individuals document their preferences in writing by completing legal documents called advance directives.
An advance directive gives instructions for medical care and who should speak for you. It is only used if you become unable to speak for yourself. The most common types of advance directives are a living will and a durable power of attorney for health care. A living will tells physicians and other medical professionals what treatments you would or would not want in the case of an emergency or terminal illness. A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that names a proxy, or agent—a person who knows your values and wishes and is authorized to make health care decisions for you if you cannot.
Even if you’re healthy, thinking and talking about these plans are important first steps.