Advance directives & long-term care
Advance directives explain how you want medical decisions to be made when you’re too ill to speak for yourself.
Types of advance directives
A health care proxy is a document that names someone you trust to make health decisions if you can’t. This is also called a durable power of attorney.
A living will tells which treatment you want if your life is threatened, including dialysis and breathing machines; resuscitation; tube feeding; and organ or tissue donation after you die.
How to get advance directives
Get an advance directive from any of these:
- Your health care provider
- Your attorney
- Your local Area Agency on Aging
- Your state health department
