Advance directive & living will planning
What is an advance directive?
Also known as a living will, an advance directive is a legal document that lets your healthcare team know your preferences for the medical care you would want to receive in the future. This is different from a financial will that typically names someone to manage your estate or provides for the transfer of your property at death.
You do not need a lawyer to complete your advance directive – all that is required for it to be legal is your signature and the signatures of two witnesses.
Advance Directive/Living Will
Medical Durable Power of Attorney
Watch our video about advance care planning
Important components of an advance directive
Naming a durable power of attorney
This is the person you would want to speak on your behalf regarding your medical care in the event you’re unable to speak for yourself. Ideally this person knows your values, is easily reachable (at least by phone), and is comfortable speaking with healthcare providers. You can name primary decision makers as well as back-ups. This is probably the most important part of an advance directive.
Outlining your preferences for resuscitation
This is also known as your “code status.” By default, doctors or medics will attempt to restart your heart using chest compressions (CPR), electric shocks, medications, and placement of a breathing tube for life support in the event that your heart and lungs stop and you die. Often, patients have preferences for which of these treatments they would or would not want.
In addition, many patients have preferences for how long they would want to stay on life support. For example, some patients want resuscitation to be attempted, but do not want to live on life support machines for more than a couple of days. Other patients do not want resuscitation attempts to be made at all, and would prefer to be allowed a natural death.
An advance directive allows you to express your wishes ahead of time so that your family and medical providers know what you would want in certain situations.
How do I submit my advance directives?
When you have completed your advance directives, you can upload them to your My Health Connection account or provide a copy to your UCHealth clinic when checking in.
Examples of advance directives
- “Five Wishes” Online Form (from the Aging With Dignity website)
- Medical Order Scope of Treatment (MOST) – (page on CIVHC website; houses advance care planning resources)
Talking with your loved ones
These resources can help you have a conversation about your wishes with the people you love.