Who would speak for you if you couldn’t speak for yourself? 

Someone who:

• Knows you well
• Is calm in a crisis
• Understands what you want
• Can ask questions and speak up for you
• Can reassure and communicate with your family

Who will be your advocate?

Your advocate should know your care preferences.

Things to talk about:

• What's important to you as a person?
• How should they know what you want?
• When to stop treatment and focus on comfort?
• What are the things that bring you comfort?
• What will you tell your advocate?

Write it down.

Two options.

• The easy option - use this worksheet
• Complete your state's advance directive

How will you document your plan? 

Give a copy of your plan to your family, doctor, and advocate.

What to do:

• Review it with your doctor
• Ask that a copy be put in your medical record
• Talk with your family and loved ones
• Revisit your plan as life changes
• Who do you need to include?

Advance care planning is for everyone. Car accidents, crises and sudden illnesses can happen to anyone at any time. Every adult should have an advance care plan.

No. Any person can complete an advance directive, and conversations can happen in whatever time and place you’re comfortable.

Your plan is flexible and can change at any time. Revisit your plan with any life event. Remember that your plan only takes effect if you can’t speak for yourself. Until then, you’ll make all your decisions for yourself.

Doctors will typically honor an advance directive across state lines. If you move, it’s a good idea to create a document in your new home state.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. Once you choose an advocate, it might be easiest to think first about what you don’t want for yourself. You can build and think through it over time.