Considering end-of-life medical treatment can certainly stir up a lot of emotions, from sadness to fear and all that fall in between. As you navigate this time with your family or loved ones, it can be helpful to try to relieve stress for all by creating a living will. In this blog, we will discuss what a living will is and how it can help families navigate end-of-life care with less stress and pressure to make hard decisions.
What is a living will?
A living will, also called a declaration, is a type of advance directive. It documents your wishes about end-of-life medical treatment in case you lose your ability to make decisions or communicate. A living will lists the conditions under which you would want or not want certain kinds of treatment or life support measures.
You can change or cancel a living will at any time. And it will not take effect unless you are no longer able to make or communicate decisions. Copies of your living will should be given to and discussed with your health professional and family members. (Please note that a living will may be called something else in your state.)
How and when will my living will be used?
Keep these facts in mind about how a living will is used:
- Your living will is used only if you can't speak or make decisions for yourself. Most often, one or more doctors must certify that you can't speak or decide for yourself before your living will takes effect.
- If you get better and can speak for yourself again, you can accept or refuse any treatment. It doesn't matter what you said in your living will.
- Some states may limit your right to refuse treatment in certain cases. For example, you may need to clearly state in your living will that you don't want artificial hydration and nutrition, such as being fed through a tube. Spend some time researching and learning about the laws in your state.
What should I include in my living will?
Be specific when you write your living will, but try not to be too specific. Too much detail may limit how well your healthcare agent or decision maker can make decisions as your situation changes. Too little detail may not give your family enough guidance in a specific situation. Be sure to talk with your healthcare decision maker about your beliefs and wishes.
Your living will should include some general information about whether you would want to have certain treatments or to have your life prolonged in certain cases. Talk about these things with your agent, your family, and your doctor.
You can't plan for every situation, but you can anticipate some interventions. Some treatments are often used in end-of-life situations, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), breaking machine (vent) and artificial nutrition (feeding tube) and fluids. Some health crises tend to be more common at the end of life, like brain damage that can't be reversed and a form of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease. Consider what your preferences would be if these circumstances pertain to you.
If you have a long-term (chronic) illness, talk with your doctor about what is likely to happen. Ask what kinds of treatments you may get. Tell your doctor how you feel about those treatments. Talk to your healthcare decision maker about your wishes based on these discussions.
It's a good idea to get your living will notarized. This means having a person called a notary public watch as two people sign, or witness, your living will.
What should I do with my living will?
- Make sure that your family members and your healthcare decision maker have copies of your living will.
- Give your doctor a copy of your living will. Ask to have it kept as part of your medical record. If you have more than one doctor, make sure that each one has a copy.
- Put a copy of your living will where it can be easily found. For example, some people may put a copy on their refrigerator door. If you are using a digital copy, be sure your doctor, family members, and health care agent know how to find and access it.
Is a living will a legal document?
A living will is a legal document. Each state has its own laws about living wills. Here are some things to know about living wills:
- You don't need an attorney to complete a living will. But legal advice can be helpful if your state's laws are unclear. It can also help if your health history is complicated or your family can't agree on what should be in your living will.
- You can change your living will at any time. Some people find that their wishes about end-of-life care change as their health changes. If you make big changes to your living will, complete a new form.
- If you move to another state, make sure that your living will is legal in the state where you now live. In most cases, doctors will respect your wishes even if you have a form from a different state.
- You might use a universal form that has been approved by many states. This kind of form can sometimes be filled out and stored online. Your digital copy will then be available wherever you have a connection to the internet. The doctors and nurses who need to treat you can find it right away.
- Your state may offer an online registry. This is another place where you can store your living will online.
- It's a good idea to get your living will notarized. This means using a person called a notary public to watch two people sign, or witness, your living will.
At Parkview Health, we believe advance directives and advance care planning (ACP) are important pieces for providing you with excellent care. We encourage you to learn more about ACP and take the steps to begin your personal journey by contacting our department at 260-266-1481 or by emailing acpdept@parkview.com.
Copyrighted material adapted with permission from Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
