Planning Ahead: Advance Directives and Important Documents
Advance directives and other key documents help ensure your wishes are known and followed. Learn what to prepare, where to keep it and who should have copies.
The short version
- An advance directive includes a living will and a health care power of attorney.
- Talk with your family and doctors about your wishes.
- Keep documents organized, updated and easy for trusted people to find.
In this guide
None of us knows exactly what the future holds. Planning ahead with the right documents helps ensure that your wishes about medical care and finances are known and respected, and it spares loved ones from having to guess during stressful times. Advance planning is valuable at any age, not just when health changes.
Advance directives for health care
An advance directive is a legal document that explains your wishes for medical care if you cannot speak for yourself. It typically includes:
Living will. A written statement of the kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want in certain situations, such as at the end of life. It can address things like CPR, breathing machines, tube feeding and comfort care.
Durable power of attorney for health care (also called a health care proxy or health care agent). This names a person you trust to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to.
Each state has its own forms and rules. Many states offer free forms online, and you generally do not need a lawyer to complete them, although some people choose to work with one.
Other medical orders
POLST or MOLST. For people who are seriously ill or frail, a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment form (names vary by state) translates your wishes into medical orders that emergency personnel can follow. Talk with your doctor about whether this is appropriate for you.
Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. A medical order indicating that CPR should not be performed. It is completed with your doctor.
Financial and legal documents
Durable power of attorney for finances. Names a person to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to. Without one, family members may need to go to court to obtain authority.
Will. Explains how you want your property distributed after your death and can name a guardian for minor children or dependents.
Trust. Some people use a trust to manage assets during life and after death. An estate planning attorney can explain whether a trust makes sense for you.
Beneficiary designations. Retirement accounts, life insurance and some bank accounts pass to the beneficiaries you name, regardless of your will. Review these regularly.
Talk about your wishes
Documents are most effective when the people involved understand your values and preferences. Talk with:
- Your health care agent, about what matters most to you
- Your family, so they understand your decisions
- Your doctors, so your wishes are part of your medical record
Medicare covers voluntary advance care planning as part of your yearly wellness visit, and as a separate service with your doctor.
Organize and share
- Keep originals in a safe but accessible place. A safe-deposit box may be hard for others to access quickly in an emergency.
- Give copies to your health care agent, family members and doctors.
- Bring a copy if you go to the hospital.
- Keep a list of where important documents are located, including insurance policies, bank accounts, deeds and passwords.
Review and update
Review your documents every few years and after major life events, such as marriage, divorce, the death of a spouse or agent, a new diagnosis or a move to another state.
Get help
- Your local Area Agency on Aging can point you to free or low-cost legal services for older adults.
- Legal aid organizations may help eligible individuals.
- State bar associations can provide attorney referrals.
- The National Institute on Aging offers free information on advance care planning.
Terrameritavi is an independent publication. This article is general information, not legal advice.
