Advance Health Care Directives

It’s estimated that four out of five Americans do not have a living will or any other written health care or end-of-life directive to help their families make decisions for them if they become incapacitated. Health care and end-of-life advance planning, if done right, accomplishes four things:

• Ensures that the person you want to speak for you has the legal authority to do so
• Helps ensure that your wishes about your health care are known and respected
• Avoids unnecessary, intrusive, and costly medical treatment at the point you not longer want it
• Reduces the suffering experienced by your loved ones, because they will have your guidance. Making serious medical decision on a loved one’s behalf without their guidance is an agonizing experience