The advance directive contains two legal documents, which are the Health Care/Medical Power of Attorney and the Living Will. However, the document also addresses matters of comfort care, spirituality, and final wishes.
According to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging, Five Wishes currently meets the legal requirements for an advance directive in 42 states and the District of Columbia. In the remaining 8 states, (Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, and Utah) a statutory form is required, and one must attach the state document if one wishes to use the Five Wishes document as a guide.
Here is an outline of the Five Wishes document:
Wish 1: The Person I Want to Make Care Decisions for Me When I Can’t
In this section, you create a medical / health care power of attorney. You choose a health care agent. This person makes medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Wish 2: The Kind of Medical Treatment I Want or Don’t Want
In this section, you create a Living Will. You define what life support treatment means to you, and when you would and would not want it.
Wish 3: How Comfortable I Want to Be
In this section, you address matters of comfort care. This includes the type of pain management you would like, personal grooming and bathing instructions, and whether you would like to know about options for hospice care.
Wish 4: How I Want People to Treat Me
In this section outlines personal matters, such as whether you would like to be at home, and whether you would like someone to pray at your bedside.
Wish 5: What I Want My Loved Ones to Know
In this section you discuss matters such as forgiveness, how you wish to be remembered, and final wishes regarding funeral or memorial plans.
If you would like to know more about Five Wishes, please see the website.