Advance Care Directives: Why They’re Essential for Every Adult
Most people avoid thinking about what would happen if they became seriously ill or injured. Yet planning for those situations is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Just as you buy insurance to protect your home or car, you should have an advance care directive to protect your medical wishes and personal decisions if you ever lose the ability to make them yourself.
What Is an Advance Care Directive?
An advance care directive (sometimes called an advance directive) is a legal document — or group of documents — that explains your health care wishes if you can’t speak for yourself.
Most directives include:
- A living will – outlines what medical treatments or life support you want or don’t want.
- A health care proxy (medical power of attorney) – names someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf.
Every adult age 18 or older should have an advance care directive in place.
What to Include in Your Directive
While you can complete an advance directive without a lawyer, it becomes legally binding once signed and witnessed. Because of that, it’s best to work with a legal professional to ensure your document is valid in your state.
Your directive should cover:
- Life-support preferences: Choose whether you want all, some, or no life-sustaining treatments such as blood transfusions, dialysis, or ventilator support.
- Health care proxy: Select someone you trust to act on your behalf if you’re unable to.
- Resuscitation wishes: Specify if you want to be resuscitated if your heart stops (a “Do Not Resuscitate” order).
- Organ donation: Indicate whether you’d like to become an organ donor.
These choices ensure that your doctors — and family — clearly understand your wishes.
Important Legal Details to Know
Advance directive laws vary by state.
Each state has its own rules about what makes these documents valid. If you spend significant time in more than one state, create a directive for each to make sure your wishes are honored everywhere.
Emergency medical technicians can’t follow directives.
In an emergency, EMTs must stabilize you and transport you to a hospital. Once a doctor evaluates your condition, your advance directive takes effect.
Your directive doesn’t expire.
An advance directive remains valid until you revoke or replace it. If you create a new one, the old document is automatically invalidated — just make sure to notify your designated health care proxy.
Review it regularly.
Life changes — and so can your wishes. Review your directive every few years, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or serious illness.
Why Advance Care Directives Matter
An advance care directive gives you a voice when you can’t speak for yourself. It also relieves your loved ones from having to make difficult medical decisions during an emotional time.
If you don’t have an advance directive, state law may determine who makes your medical decisions — and those decisions might not reflect your true wishes.
We Can Help You Get Started
At Aging in Maine, we help individuals and families prepare legal documents that ensure peace of mind and protection. Our attorneys will guide you through creating or updating your advance care directive, living will, or health care proxy— all tailored to Maine law.
📞 Call: (207) 848-5600
