Advance Directives: Documenting Your Wishes Before You Become Ill
We all have the right to make our own decisions about the medical treatments we want and don’t want. We also have the right to give another person the power to make those decisions for us if we are unable to communicate our wishes ourselves.
While telling someone else about the kinds of treatments you want or don’t want is good, writing down your thoughts helps make sure that your loved ones, your doctors and others know exactly what you want. These written instructions are called “advance directives.” They’re called that because “advance” means “before the need arises” and “directives” means “instructions” or “wishes.”
If there comes a point in your life when you are unable to make health care decisions for yourself, it is prudent to designate a person (called a “surrogate”) to make health care decisions for you. Your surrogate can step in for you at any point in your life, whether or not you are terminally ill, as long as you are unable to communicate your wishes.
Avow Hospice has designed a Living Will Kit to help you document your wishes regarding health care at the end of life and to designate a Health Care Surrogate. This kit includes the necessary form and directions for completing it along with additional resources and supplemental items.
See the links below to download our overview, form and form instructions.
If you would like to speak to someone about the Living Will process, call Avow Hospice at (239) 261-4404.