Advance Directives and Family Conversations: What Americans Are Actually Doing
Advance directives are meant to help people plan for a time when they may not be able to make or communicate their own medical decisions. Yet many Americans do not create one until later in life. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey offers a closer look at how common advance directives are, when people tend […]
Five Wishes: What It Is and What It Covers
You may have heard of an advance directive as a way to put healthcare wishes in writing for a time when you cannot speak for yourself. Five Wishes is one type of advance directive, but it covers more than medical treatment decisions alone. It also gives you a place to name the person you want […]
What Does the National Council on Aging Say About Advance Directives?
Advance directives may seem like something to consider later in life. An unexpected illness or injury, however, can affect your ability to communicate your healthcare wishes at any age. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) makes this point in its guidance on advance directives. Planning ahead gives you the opportunity to make your voice part […]
Advance Care Planning: Why the Conversation Matters as Much as the Documents
Putting your healthcare wishes in writing is an important part of planning ahead. Talking about those wishes with the people you trust can be just as valuable. According to Duke Health, advance care planning includes discussing your healthcare wishes with family, close friends, faith leaders, and members of your care team. These conversations can help […]
What Is a Living Will? How It Works and What It Covers
A living will puts some of your most personal healthcare choices into words. Knowing that it exists for that purpose is only the beginning. What does the document actually say? When would its instructions be used? And does declining one type of treatment mean that other medical care would stop, too? Those questions become important […]