Choose who can speak for you, document your care wishes, and share the completed forms.
Advance Directives are documents that communicate your health care wishes if you cannot speak for yourself. They may include a Living Will and a Health Care Proxy, Medical Power of Attorney, or similar appointment of a decision-maker.
Names, forms, witnesses, notarization, and other rules vary by location. Use official local forms or qualified guidance. This page is preparation, not medical or legal advice.
Choose someone who understands your values, can stay calm under pressure, will ask questions, and is willing to follow your wishes even when others disagree. Name a backup when the form allows it.
Discuss what quality of life means to you, treatments you would or would not want, what comfort-focused care means to you, and how much flexibility your decision-maker should have.
Give copies to your decision-maker, backup, clinicians, and hospital system. Keep a copy where trusted people can reach it, not only in a locked or unknown location. Add the documents to your patient portal when possible.
Revisit your Advance Directives after a new , major treatment change, hospitalization, relationship change, move, or shift in what matters to you.