An Advance Directive is a legal document allowing you to spell out your decisions about your end-of-life care ahead of time. These documents provide a way for you to express your wishes to your family, friends, and health care professionals, and to avoid confusion later on.

Don’t assume your family will have the power to direct medical providers regarding your last wishes! An Advance Directive will ensure your end-of-life wishes are honored, including:

• Life support wishes (whether you wish to remain “plugged in” or have a “feeding tube” in order to keep you alive).
• Whether you want the use of dialysis or breathing machines to keep you alive.
• Cremation or burial wishes.
• Organ donation wishes.
• Autopsy wishes.