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A simple, straightforward document called an advance directive allows you to express your wishes if you become incapacitated and unable to communicate. Advance directives are recognized in every state, and millions of Americans have them as part of their medical records.

Conversation is an essential part of healthcare and end of life care plans. We provide conversation tips and tools to help you create your advance care directives. It's important to Begin the Conversation about your end of life care wishes before a crisis occurs and you can't speak for yourself.

An advance directive is legally recognized but not legally binding. This means that your health care provider and proxy will do their best to respect your advance directives, but there may be circumstances in which they cannot follow your wishes exactly.

Types of Advance Directives The living will. Durable power of attorney for health care/Medical power of attorney. POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) Do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. Organ and tissue donation.

Advance directives generally fall into three categories: living will, power of attorney and health care proxy. LIVING WILL: This is a written document that specifies what types of medical treatment are desired. A living will can be very specific or very general.

Advance directives are legal documents that provide instructions for medical care and only go into effect if you cannot communicate your own wishes. The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.

An advance directive encompasses all legal orders which concern your wishes surrounding future medical care. The document will come into play in the case of severe medical situations in which you're not able to communicate your wishes or make decisions. These may include such conditions as a coma, stroke or dementia.

Fact: Most of us have some ambivalence about what we would want because treatment near the end of life can be complicated. Advance health care directives can always be changed if/when your wishes or circumstances change.

A person can also revoke their Advance Directive orally, by telling their healthcare provider that they no longer want either the entire document or any parts of it enforced.

An advance directive, alone, may not be sufficient to stop all forms of life-saving treatment. You may also need specific do not resuscitate, or DNR orders.You retain the right to override the decisions or your representative, change the terms of your living will or POA, or completely revoke an advance directive.