No matter how old you are or how healthy you are, it is never too soon to have a signed health care proxy. This document does not need a lawyer in order to be complete. It will insure that medical professionals understand your wishes for who will be making decisions for you in the case you are no longer able to do so yourself. Here are some resources for you to use.

The Massachusetts Health Care Proxy lets you name someone to make decisions about your medical care—including decisions about life support—if you can no longer speak for yourself. The Health Care Proxy is especially useful because it appoints someone to speak for you any time you are unable to make your own medical decisions, not only at the end of life. Your Health Care Proxy becomes effective when your doctor determines in writing that you are unable to make or communicate health care decisions. Your doctor must also record the cause and nature of your incapacity as well as its extent and probable duration. Download it free of charge here: http://www.caringinfo.org/files/public/Massachusetts.pdf.

The Five Wishes document helps you express how you want to be treated if you are seriously ill and unable to speak for yourself. It is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it looks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional and spiritual. Five Wishes also encourages discussing your wishes with your family and physician. View a non-printable version here: ttp://www.agingwithdignity.org/5wishes.pdf. 

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  Click here if you wish to receive a copy of the Five Wishes booklet free of charge