What Is a Health Care Directive?

Persons residing in assisted living communities such as the Mission at Agua Fria should always have health care directives in place if they have any preferences with regard to medical care. This article doesn’t just apply to seniors or those with health conditions, however: every person should have a plan in place in case the unexpected happens.

In many cases, a person may not be able to speak for themselves once they have entered a serious medical situation. This could mean a major injury, terminal illness, a coma, dementia, or any other situation that renders them unable to communicate their wishes to medical staff.

This is why the health care directive, also known as a living will, exists. It is a set of written, advanced instructions left in place for when the above-mentioned situations occur. A person should also grant power of attorney to another person to allow that person to make decisions on their behalf.

The Benefits of Having a Health Care Directive in Place

There are several advantages to having such a set of instructions in place:

How to Set Up a Health Care Directive

A health care directive is a legal document and must be in writing to be official. The laws regarding health care directives vary from state to state. In some, they must be officially witnessed by a notary public. In others, a simple signature from a witness will suffice.

Many organizations have links to the specific forms that are required to create a health directive. Some of these include AARP and the American Bar Association.

Once the form has been filled out and the legal logistics hammered out, the person creating the health care directive should send copies to their doctor, health care agent, and family members. They should also discuss the particulars of their wishes with their caregivers so that the details of their directive are well-known.