What Is Advance Directive Documents?
Advance directives document healthcare wishes for when you cannot speak for yourself. Understanding these documents helps seniors ensure their preferences guide their care.
What Advance Directives Are
Advance directives are legal documents expressing healthcare preferences. They take effect when you cannot make or communicate decisions yourself. They guide care when you are incapacitated.
Advance directives are not about giving up care. They are about ensuring you get the care you want, whether that is aggressive treatment or comfort-focused care.
Everyone should have advance directives. Unexpected events can happen at any age. Advance directives prevent family burden and conflict during crises.
Types of Advance Directive Documents
Living wills state treatment preferences. They address specific interventions like CPR, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and dialysis. Living wills provide guidance for common end-of-life decisions.
Healthcare power of attorney designates a decision-maker. This person, called a healthcare agent or proxy, makes medical decisions when you cannot. Choosing the right person is crucial.
POLST forms translate wishes into medical orders. Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment are signed by healthcare providers. They provide immediately actionable orders for emergency responders.
Do Not Resuscitate orders specifically address CPR. DNR orders direct that CPR not be attempted. These are medical orders, not advance directives, but relate to end-of-life preferences.
Creating Advance Directives
Reflect on your values and preferences. What makes life meaningful to you? What conditions would be unacceptable? What trade-offs would you accept?
Discuss wishes with family and your healthcare agent. The person who may make decisions should understand your values, not just specific instructions.
Complete appropriate documents. State-specific forms are often available free. California has statutory advance directive forms that meet legal requirements.
Follow execution requirements. Witnessing and notarization requirements vary. Proper execution ensures documents are legally valid.
Distribute copies widely. Provide copies to your healthcare agent, family, doctors, and hospital. Documents only help if they are accessible when needed.
Reviewing and Updating
Review advance directives periodically. Preferences may change over time. Major health changes should prompt reconsideration.
Update documents when circumstances change. New diagnoses, changed family situations, or evolved preferences warrant updates.
Ensure current documents are available. When updating, replace old copies to avoid confusion about current wishes.
Limitations of Advance Directives
Documents cannot anticipate every situation. Broad principles and designated decision-makers address unexpected circumstances better than specific instructions.
Documents must be accessible to be useful. Emergency responders cannot follow wishes they do not know about.
Getting Advance Directive Help
All Seniors Foundation helps with advance care planning. Documenting your wishes protects your autonomy. Contact us for advance directive guidance and resources.
