Advance Directive Resources

Creating an Advance Directive is important for sharing your thoughts about your final care with your loved ones. An advance directive allows you to make your healthcare wishes known in advance of a serious illness. Having an involved discussion with your family about your values, priorities, and quality of life will help you make decisions for this important document.

Advance directives can be in the form of a Living Will and/or Healthcare Proxy statement. Both are legal documents. When creating this document, remember that each state has it's own laws and forms for you to use. Resources for each state can be found at the US Living Will Registry.

Below is a list of reliable resources to help you create an Advance Directive that reflects your wishes.

• American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging
• American Hospital Association
• American Association of Retired Persons
• American Medical Association
• The Mayo Clinic
• American Academy of Family Physicians
• National Cancer Institute