Advance Health Care Directives 101

There are many sources for free, state specific, Advance Directives. Following are a few reputable places. Please feel free to tell us about additional sources to share with other people in a similar situation.

• Caring Connections www.CaringInfo.org   Click on Download Your State Specific Advance Directive or call 800.658.8898
• Compassion and Choices, www.CompassionAndChoices.org , click on "Plan Your Care", then "Tools To Manage Your Care" or call 800.247.7421
• Hospital admitting departments.
• State and local bar associations. You can locate the associations in your state via http://www.romingerlegal.com/natbar.htm
• If you are facing the reality of dementia, whether due to Alzheimer's Disease or other causes, see an advance directive specifically dealing with this issue at www.EndOfLifeChoicesNY.org .  

NOTE: There are expanded Living Wills which include your wishes for level of comfort, including the kind of music you would want played. An example is the form known as Five Wishes which is available for a small fee at www.agingwithdignity.org . While these forms can be helpful in detailing your wishes, they may be confusing to doctors who are used to the standard form used in your state. If you use one of these forms:

• Show it to your doctor to be sure he or she understands it.
• If you are going to enter a hospital, also complete the forms used by the hospital.  Forms other than the ones commonly used by the hospital will likely have to be interpreted by the hospital's lawyers and that could unnecessarily hold things up.  (Make sure what you say in the two forms is not in conflict). 

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