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Why and how to draw up documents that designate healthcare preferences and decision-making authority (advance directives)

Having advance health care directives in place can simplify decision making at difficult times. Invite your loved one to make them while in the earliest disease stages.

There are two main types:

1. A living will (also called a medical directive) allows a person to direct final medical care, such as which life-prolonging treatments he or she wants to have or avoid.
2. A power of attorney for health care (also called a medical power of attorney or healthcare proxy) allows a person to designate someone to supervise or make healthcare decisions if the person who executes the document becomes unable to do so.

Some states require two separate documents; others combine them.

Read a step-by-step guide to advance health care directives and living wills.

See state-by-state sample forms and laws for living wills and advance directives.