Advance Healthcare Directives
Planning is a Process
Advance healthcare planning is a process, not an event. It is planning for future care based on a person’s values, beliefs, preferences, and specific medical issues. An advance directive is the record of that process. It is an umbrella term for defining and expressing how one wants to live and be treated at end-of-life.
Advance healthcare directive documents allow you to specify those things that matter most to you, and to appoint a person (healthcare agent) to speak for you when you are unable to speak for yourself.
About Advance Healthcare Directives
Advance Healthcare Directives are written guidance for your family, loved ones, and healthcare providers about your values and wishes concerning future health care choices.
It is called an “advance healthcare directive” because it is prepared prior to a health crisis in which it would guide medical care. They are intended to help you think through your priorities and to have “the conversation” with those with whom you are close.
About Healthcare Agents
An Advance Healthcare Directive includes a person’s living will (specifications for end-of-life care) and also allows you to identify a healthcare agent (sometimes referred to as a healthcare decision-maker, surrogate, or proxy) who can represent your wishes should you become incapacitated.
Advance directives vary by state and can include other documents, such as a dementia provision. State-specific advance directives make clear your end-of-life preferences if you are unable to make or communicate medical treatment decisions yourself.
Advance Directive Resources
Optional Advance Healthcare Directive
Advance healthcare planning is a process, not an event, and is planning for future care based on a person’s values, beliefs, preferences, and specific medical issues. An advance directive is the record of that process. Advance directives convey in writing a person’s choices regarding:
- who will be their health care decision maker in the event that they are unable to make these decisions and define the scope of their authority;
- give instructions for their health care; and
- designate their healthcare provider.
They are legal documents governed by New Mexico state statute. Download and complete this form: Optional Advance Health Care Directive (1-24) to satisfy the requirements of New Mexico law for health care directives.
My End-of-Life Decisions: An Advance Planning Guide and Toolkit
Learn more at Compassion and Choices or download this FREE End of Life Planning Toolkit or order a physical copy from the C&C website.
Like many people, you may have put off making decisions about your end-of-life care. Thinking and talking about end-of-life issues can be difficult, and putting documents in place can seem daunting. This guide will help you think through your priorities for end-of-life care, complete an advance directive and other forms you may need, choose a representative to speak for you if you cannot, and consider common end-of-life medical interventions so you can specify what you want or don’t want — right up to the end. And it will guide you in having valuable conversations with your healthcare providers and loved ones.
Recursos en Español
RESOURCES:
Compassion and Choices
Explore their free End of Life Planning resources to help you think through your priorities for end of life care, complete an advance directive and other forms you may need, choose a representative to speak for you if you cannot, and consider common end of life medical interventions so you can specify what you want or don’t want – right up to the end. And, it will guide you in having valuable conversations with your healthcare providers and loved ones.