Make plans for future healthcare needs

At any age, a medical crisis or emergency could leave you too ill to make your own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now, planning for health care in the future is an important step toward making sure you get the medical care you would want if you are unable to speak for yourself and doctors and family members are making the decisions for you.

Advanced care planning involves asking yourself questions like:

• Do I want doctors to use emergency treatments like CPR, ventilators, or artificial nutrition?
• Would I want pain medication at the end-of-life, even if it makes me drowsy?
• Who can I appoint as a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions for me if I’m unable to do so?

Visit our website to learn more about advance care planning and health directives including what you need to do to make your wishes official.

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A medical crisis or emergency could leave you too ill to make your own healthcare decisions. Make sure you plan for the future and make your wishes known and official with the proper health directives. Learn more: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives