Content Overview 
- Overview
- The Catholic Church's Position On Advance Health Care Directives
- Where Can I Find Free Advance Directive Forms?
- Why Do I Need A Living Will and/or A Health Care Proxy?
- Why Do I Need A Healthcare Power of Attorney If I Have A Living Will?
- Why Do I Need A Do Not Resuscitate Directive (DNR) If I Have A Living Will And/Or A Health Care Power Of Attorney?
- What If I Move Or Receive Treatment In Another State?
- How To Choose A Doctor Who Will Comply With Your Wishes
- What If My Healthcare Proxy's Decision Conflicts With The Instructions In My Living Will?
- How Long Do Advance Directives Stay In Effect?
- How To Choose A Hospital Or Other Health Care FacilityThat Respects Your Wishes
- How To Talk With Family About Your Wishes About What To Do If You Become Incapacitated And Can't Speak For Yourself
- Who Should I Give Copies Of My Healthcare Power Of Attorney, Living Will and Do Not Resuscitate Order?
- How Often Should I Revisit My Advance Directives?
- How To Revoke Or Amend A Living Will, Healthcare Power Of Attorney Or DNR (Advance Directives)
- How Is Incapacity Determined?
Advance Health Care Directives 101
How Often Should I Revisit My Advance Directives?
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Things change -- including our beliefs and our relationships to people.
To avoid the problem of medical personnel questioning whether a document which is years old still reflects your wishes, it is advisable to re-execute your documents every year. If not every year, at least every two years. The re-execution can be as simple as signing your name to the document again and adding the date.
It is also a good idea to revisit your documents:
- If there is a significant change (for better or worse) in your health condition.
- If you or an appointed decision-maker change opinions about treatment
- People you know or people in the news experience a situation which could be covered by an Advance Directive and you want to check to see how your documentation would cover the situation.
If your views change, rip up the old document, execute a new one, and give it it to the appropriate people. Let everyone who has a copy of your old directives know there are new ones.
It is also advisable to speak with the people you appointed as Proxy and as Alternate at least once a year to remind them of your wishes and to be sure they are still agreeable to (and capable of) doing what you want.
NOTE: Consider setting a date on your calendar to remind you to revisit your Advance Directives. Roll the reminder from year to year.