Your Living Will Checklist

• Do you have an attorney? Yes or No
• Do you have an Advanced Care Directive? Yes or No
• Do you have a Living Will? Yes or No
• Have you given someone the power of attorney for health decisions? Yes or No
• Do you have a will covering property? Yes or No
• Do you have a financial planner? Yes or No

Advanced Care Directives are written in legal language. Doctors aren't very good at speaking legal language. Today, some states use a POLST.

POLST (Physician Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a two-page, signed doctors order detailing in medical language what your wishes are.

It is primarily used when indicating that the life expectancy is limited. It allows for EMT's to follow through on the physicians orders that have been agreed to by the patient.

It is usually a bright pink form that is kept on the refrigerator to be seen by First Responders.

POLST

Tool Kit for Advanced Care Planning

You may also wish to have "My Requests" which also details how you wish to be approached and cared for by loved ones.

Think of the people who mean the most to you. Friends and/or family.

Write these people on a separate piece of paper and for each person, recall your favorite memory involving them. Include nicknames you had for them. Let them know if there is an item you would personally want them to have. List the qualities that you admire and love about them.

Share of the hopes and dreams you have for their future.

"My Requests shares your wishes with your loved ones in simple, clear language, click here to review.

What Are Advance Directives?

Two types of Advance Directives are:

Living Will: A Living Will is a legal document in which you state the kind of health care you want or don't want under certain circumstances.

Health Care Proxy: A Health Care Proxy (or Durable Health Care Power of Attorney) is a legal document in which you name someone close to make decisions about your health care in the event you become incapacitated.

The Living Will is a declaration of what to be done or not, if you are unable to speak your wishes at the End-of-Life. It states what the attending physicians should know about your wishes, so they can act appropriately.

An Advance Directive is a legal document that specifically spells out how you want to be cared for as the end of life draws near, when you no longer can speak for yourself.

By preparing an Advance Directive you will make choices and decisions that would otherwise be made for you. It is often referred to as a gift to family and loved ones so that they do not have to struggle with what should or should not be done when you are unable to tell them.

It is a legal document and each state has their own document.

To complete, the document requires a Health Care Advocate (HCA) or Proxy and one or two witnesses and/or a notary.

The completed documents need to be signed and copied for you, the HCA, witnesses, and a copy should be provided to your physician.

To get your state’s Advance Directive and Durable Power of Attorney forms, please Click here to your ROYL Guide