This toolkit tells you what you need to know about advance directives and why you might want to make one. It also includes a tool you can use to make a health care power of attorney (coming soon). For general information about advance directives, read the Articles. Review the Common Questions if you have a specific question. If you want to make a Health Care Power of Attorney, use the Forms link to prepare it.
You'll find links to legal aid offices and lawyer referral services under Find A Lawyer. If there is a Self-Help Center in your area you can get more help there. If you need something other than legal help, look in Community Services. If you need a fee waiver, an interpreter, a court to accommodate your disability, or more information about going to court, visit Going to Court.
Common Questions
An advance directive is a document where you write out what kind of care you want in case you cannot make health care decisions for yourself later. An advance directive can also include who you want to make those decisions for you.
A health care power of attorney is a document where you name someone to make health care decisions for you. This document is sometimes called a “patient advocate designation”. The person you name in the document is called your patient advocate.
You might have a temporary loss of ability to make or communicate decisions. For example, you may have a stroke or become unconscious in a car accident. You might suffer permanent loss through a long-term condition, like dementia. Your patient advocate can only make decisions for you when you are unable to participate in medical decisions.