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The goal of Life Care Planning is to promote and maintain the good health, safety, well-being, and quality of life of elders and their families. Such planning is an important task for all of us, whether young or old, healthy or facing challenges. None of us knows what life has in store, so taking steps to tell our loved ones of our wishes can make all the difference on our end of life care.
The following is taken directly from a Life Care Planning packet available on the Arizona Attorney General's website. The forms referred to below are included in that packet, so can be accessed from that website..
Talking with others about your wishes
You should consider the people that you can begin your life care planning conversations with. Your medical care is about you - start the conversations with those who can help you consider what medical treatments you may or may not want if you become incapacitated, or as you approach the end of your life.
- Your health care agent (the person you select to make health care decisions for you)
- Your spouse, children, other relatives, and close friends
- Your doctor, clergyperson and others
Life care planning documents
- Health care power of attorney
This form allows you to select a person to make future medical decisions for you if you become too ill to communicate or cannot make those decisions for yourself. - Living will
This form allows you to list out the type of medical treatments you do or do not want for your end-of-life care. It should go with your health care power of attorney form so your agent knows your wishes. - Mental health care power of attorney
This form allows you to select a person to make future mental health care decisions for you in case you become incapable of making those decisions for yourself. - Prehospital medical care directives (do not resuscitate)
This form needs to be on orange paper and should be signed by you and your doctor. It informs emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or first responders not to resuscitate you. Sometimes this is called a DNR – Do Not Resuscitate. Please note this is valid prior to going to a hospital. If admitted to a hospital they may require you to fill out another form for their hospital. - Registration agreement (optional)
If you would like to register your documents with the Arizona Health Care Directives Registry, you MUST fill out this form and submit it with your documents.
Note: The Life Care Planning documents can be filled out and submitted without consulting a lawyer but you may find it helpful to talk with an Elder Law / Life Care Planning lawyer for advice.
