Five Wishes

As previously explained, an Advance Directive tells your doctor what kind of care you want if you were unable to make decisions due to illness. Here, I will discuss more specifically, the Five Wishes Advance Directive.

The Five Wishes Advance Directive proved immediately popular because it is written in plain English, with no medical or legal jargon. It helps people express, in their own words, their wishes for the kind of care they want in case of a serious illness.

Simply put, Five Wishes is a legally valid tool you can use to ensure your wishes. It ensures your loved ones will be respected if you can’t speak for yourself.

Five Wishes lets your family and doctors know:

1.    The person you want to make health care decisions for you when you can’t

2.    The kind of medical treatment you want or don’t want

3.    How comfortable you want to be

4.    How you want people to treat you

5.    What you want your loved ones to know

From the Aging with Dignity website:

The Five Wishes Advance Directive is valid in 40 states.  It is an easy form that lets you say exactly what you want. It can be ordered at www.agingwithdignity.org