Advanced Care Planning

 

 The more thorough your advance care planning, the less your loved ones will have to guess about your wishes during difficult times. Let’s go over the different types of advance directives and paperwork, and I’ll explain what they cover so you can pick the ones that suit you best:

Thinking Ahead Workbook Thinking ahead - My way. My choice. My life at the end.

Quick Tip:

A combination of a Living Will + Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is often considered a good base level of preparedness. If you have specific conditions or values, adding POLST or Five Wishes can really make your intentions crystal clear

 

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1. Living Will

• What it is: A document that spells out your wishes for medical treatment if you are unable to communicate (terminal illness, permanent unconsciousness, etc.).

• Why it's good: You can get very specific about what treatments you do or don’t want (life support, feeding tubes, resuscitation, etc.).

• Best for: Anyone who wants to make clear decisions about end-of-life care.

 

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2. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (Healthcare Proxy)

• What it is: You appoint a trusted person to make healthcare decisions for you if you’re unable to do so.

• Why it's good: Your chosen person can make decisions that aren't covered in your living will, especially in unforeseen situations.

• Best for: Anyone who wants a trusted advocate to make healthcare decisions if they cannot.

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Advance Care Planning | Texas Health and Human Services - Documents to complete - Living Will, Medical Power of Attorney,  Durable Power of Attorney,  Out of Hospital DNR's

Advance Directive Documents - FUNERAL CONSUMERS ALLIANCE OF CENTRAL TEXAS

 

Advance Directive Forms for Each State & Territory - CaringInfo

 

Declaration for Mental Health Treatment (DMHT) — This document allows you to make decisions in advance about mental health treatment and specifically three types of mental health treatment: psychoactive medication, convulsive therapy and emergency mental health treatment. The instructions that you include in this declaration will be followed only if a court believes that you are incapacitated to make treatment decisions. Otherwise, you will be considered able to give or withhold consent for the treatments.  

 

Dementia-Specific Advance Directive or an addendum to the living will focused on dementia care.

It basically spells out your preferences before the cognitive decline happens, so your loved ones and doctors have clear guidance. It can cover things like:

• Where you want to live (home, assisted living, memory care, etc.)

• How you feel about treatments if you reach advanced stages

• Personal comfort and dignity choices (music, visitors, daily routines)

• Instructions about feeding tubes or life-sustaining measures

• Pain management and comfort-focused care

• Participation in research or clinical trials

It's actually a gift to your family — it removes the guesswork and guilt.

2024-dementia-values-priorities-tool_updated0624.pdf