Advance Directives

Let your wishes be heard

Health Care Proxy Form and Living Will

Regardless of your diagnosis, your age, or other factors, all patients have the right and are encouraged to make their wishes formally known through the preparation of advance directives. While it is particularly important to have a plan and to have advance directives in place for those with terminal illness, it is encouraged that everyone has a medical plan and has defined their wishes, should there be a time in the future when they are unable to express those wishes.

While this is a sensitive subject, it is quite important. Often, patients and families find it is easier to have these decisions clearly outlined before there is an urgent need for the discussion to take place. Having advance directives prepared can give peace of mind when one is facing a terminal illness or is expecting an illness to progress.

If you have questions about advance directives, reach out to your HOA team; we can offer you guidance. Our office has health care proxy forms and FIVE WISHES® packets available for you. FIVE WISHES® is a living will that is patient-friendly and walks you through questions/scenarios to help you define your medical wishes, as well as spiritual and emotional needs. To learn more about FIVE WISHES®, reach out to your HOA team, or visit the website: agingwithdignity.org. We also have MOLST forms that your doctor can initiate and complete with you, if appropriate.

Our staff at HOA has the utmost respect for every one of our patients and we are honored to be a part of your journey. We always strive to help our patients maintain their dignity, and understand this can be difficult as the end of life approaches. Advance directives are one way to ensure that your wishes will be known and respected. It can be difficult to discuss advance directives, but once again, we are here to help. Our providers have honest and respectful conversations with patients and their loved ones, and our social workers provide additional assistance and support during these often confusing and difficult times; you are not alone.

Understanding Advance Directives 

  • Health Care Proxy: A health care proxy allows you to appoint someone to make medical decisions for you (should you be unable to make your wishes known). Your designated Health Care Agent should be someone close to you that you trust and you should discuss your wishes with this person.
  • Living Will: A Living Will details specifics about your medical treatment wishes. If you were to become seriously ill, your living will would guide your healthcare team and lets them know exactly what types of interventions you would like or which interventions you do not want done.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR will prevent healthcare practitioners from initiating emergency procedures in attempt to resuscitate you should you stop breathing or your heart stop beating. A DNR can facilitate a natural death for terminally ill patients.
  • Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatments (MOLST): The bright pink MOLST form outlines end-of-life wishes for terminally ill patients. This form is completed with your doctor and should stay with you at all times (keep it readily available at home and bring it with you to hospital visits, etc.).

Let your wishes be heard.

Prepare your advance directives today.