It can record wishes about resuscitation, feeding tubes, hospital admission and comfort care. In dementia, the hardest questions concern eating and hospital transfer in the late stages.
Forms vary by state and are free. A POLST or MOLST form is a related medical order for people who are already seriously ill.
Why it matters
Without it, families end up guessing at a hospital bedside, and often disagreeing.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
Advance directive where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ