When should you create an advanced care directive?

Advanced care directives outline your wishes about healthcare decisions when you become incapable of communicating them. For most people, these directives come into play when they reach an advanced age or become seriously ill or injured. 

Nevertheless, advanced care directives are valuable for adults of all ages. Accidents and illnesses can happen to anyone, regardless of age or current health status. If you do not have an advanced care directive, it may be time to start looking into it. Here is what you should know. 

What are advanced care directives? 

Advanced care directives are legal documents that contain instructions on how to handle your medical care when you are unable to communicate or make decisions. They typically include: 

• A living will: This expresses your instructions and wishes about future medical care when you lose the capacity to make decisions. 

• A healthcare power of attorney: This appoints a person to make decisions for you when you become unable to do so yourself.  

Lawyers often combine these directives into one advanced directive document. If you do not have a directive in place, healthcare providers may make decisions based on their medical judgment or rely on your next of kin. 

When should you have an advanced care directive in place? 

A directive is important for anyone, but it can be more crucial in specific situations, such as: 

• Serious illness diagnosis: When you receive a diagnosis for a serious or chronic illness, your family may face complex treatment decisions. 

• Before major surgery: Major surgeries may lead to complications that could leave you temporarily or permanently unable to make decisions. 

• Entering senior years: As you approach your senior years, the likelihood of needing medical interventions increases. 

• Family history: If you have a family history of conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other debilitating diseases, you may want to create an advanced directive early. 

• High-risk occupations: Some professions, such as construction or law enforcement, carry higher risks of injury. 

In such circumstances, an advanced directive can give you more control over your healthcare, even if you are too ill, injured or in a coma. It can also help take away the burden of making difficult decisions from your loved ones. 

Again, it is highly advisable to have a directive in place even while you are young and healthy. Consider consulting with an estate planning attorney who can help you outline your healthcare wishes and ensure they are legally sound.