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Advance care planning
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Advance care planning forms |
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Download a complete Power of Attorney for Health
Care form with instructions in Adobe Acrobat format:
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When you become ill, you have the right to say yes or no to treatment
options. But what if you became unable to decide for yourself? Who would
speak for you? And would they know what you want and don’t want? Take some steps now to make sure your wishes are known.
Where
do you start?
One way to make your wishes known is to put them in writing through an
Advance Directive. This is a legal paper that tells your choices about the
health care you want or do not want. When you make an Advance Directive,
you will think about issues like dying, life-saving measures, and quality
of life. Why do you need an Advance Directive?
An Advance Directive speaks for you when you are unable to do so. It
serves as a guide for your health care team. It also relieves your family
of the burden of trying to guess what you would want. Who should have
one?
 Every adult 18 years of age or older should think about having an
Advance Directive. It’s a good idea to fill one out while your health is
good and you can think clearly about your options. What happens if you
do not have an Advance Directive?
If you cannot speak for yourself and have no Advance Directive, your
health care provider will look to your family or close friends to help
make decisions about your care. If they are unsure or do not agree about
your care, they may ask the court to appoint a guardian who will make the
decisions for you. How do you make one?
An Advance Directive can be made free of cost. You can get help and any
needed forms by calling your health care provider or a trained advanced
care planning facilitator.
A lawyer can also help you, but this is not required. There are two
forms available:
- A Living Will is a form that describes what type of care you would
want—or not want—to prolong your life if you were near death or in a
persistent vegetative state. It does not give anyone else the right to
make health care decisions on your behalf. In some cases, when a health
care agent is not named, the courts become involved in making the
decisions.
- A Power of Attorney for Health Care is a form in which you appoint
another person as your “health care agent.” This person will work with
your health care provider to make sure your wishes are carried out, if
you are not able to do this yourself.
 Do you need both a Living Will and a Power of Attorney?
You do not need both, but if you have both, make sure they agree with
each other. What if you make an Advance Directive and then want to
make changes?
Advance Directives can be changed or revoked at any time. You can
make changes by writing a new form, writing an addendum, or telling your
health care provider. You can cancel by destroying the form and telling
your health care provider. What should you do with it once you have
it?
Keep it in a safe place and let your family or others close to you
know where they can find it if needed. If you travel, you may wish to
take a copy with you. Give a copy to:
- Your health care provider (you’ll want to discuss the form and
make sure he or she agrees to honor your wishes)
- Your health care agent (named in your Power of Attorney for
Health Care)
- Your family or others close to you
- Your lawyer if you have one
- The clinic or hospital where you go for care (for your medical
record)
Need help or more information?
Ask your health care provider or call 888-863-5502 to find out how
Aurora’s Advance Care Planning Program can help you. The program is
designed to:
- Provide a trained facilitator to talk with you about your health
care wishes.
- Help you put your choices in a legal Power of Attorney for Health
Care document.
- Make sure your Power of Attorney for Health Care is available when
needed.
Aurora Health Care also holds advance
care planning workshops where
trained professionals provide information and assistance on the Power of
Attorney for Health Care.
For further information on advance care:
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Practice
worksheet
