What Are Advance Directives?

Advance directives are legal documents for an adult of any age to help plan his future medical care.

The directives include what kinds of treatments that a person does or does not want. These directives become important when a person can no longer communicate his decisions. The directives speak for the person to ensure that his religious and personal beliefs are respected.

You may feel uncomfortable about approaching the topic of advanced directives with your parents since it brings up unpleasant thoughts about dying. As with any conversation about their health and physical condition, be sensitive and respectful to their feelings. Know that typically parents don't want to become burdens to their children. If your parents and loved ones have advance directives, it will relieve some of the stress on you, as their caregivers. These directives can be used as a guideline, plus, it may help prevent misunderstandings and sibling arguments over a loved one's care.

Your loved one will need to have a written document that names his or her health care proxy - also referred to as a health care agent or surrogate. This is the person that he or she wishes to give the authority to make medical decisions. Most people appoint a family member, close friend, clergyperson, or lawyer. This person needs to be someone who understands your loved one's values and beliefs.

You should make sure that information about health care treatments should also be included. Sometimes this part is called a “living will”. The types of treatment decisions to be included are life support treatments, such a breathing with a ventilator, or the administration of CPR to revive a stopped heart, feeding tubes, and medicine for pain relief.

Also in many states your loved one can state their wishes for organ donation, cremation or burial. Advance directives can be changed and should always be kept up to date. A lawyer isn't necessary to create the document. You'll need to find out what the requirements are for your state. Most of the time the directive needs to be signed by in the presence of two witnesses, who will also sign. Some states require it to be notarized.

There are many places to get forms online. A good resource is “Caring Connections” a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. Their website is http://www.caringinfo.org. Be sure your loved one gives a copy to his or her doctor and discusses health care treatment wishes. Now, while you're at it, devise an advanced directive for yourself.