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5 Wishes Document - Usage Guide

The Five Wishes Document is a powerful tool that allows individuals to articulate their preferences regarding medical treatment, personal care, and how they wish to be treated in the event that they can no longer make decisions for themselves. This document covers personal, emotional, spiritual needs, and medical wishes, ensuring that one's values and desires are respected even when they cannot voice them. To complete the Five Wishes Document correctly and ensure it is legally binding, follow the steps below with careful consideration and clarity.

1. Fill in your full name and birthdate at the beginning of the document where indicated.
2. Wish 1: Decide who you want to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. This person is known as your Health Care Agent.
   • Enter the full name, address, and phone number of your first-choice Health Care Agent.
   • Identify alternative agents by providing their full names, addresses, and phone numbers, in case your first choice is unable or unwilling to act on your behalf.
3. Choosing the Right Person as Your Health Care Agent: Consider someone who knows you well, is trustworthy, and can effectively communicate and advocate for your wishes.
   • Ensure the person is at least 18 years old, and not your health care provider or a non-relative who is an owner or operator of a health or residential community care facility serving you.
   • Discuss your wishes with the person you choose to ensure they are willing and able to act as your Health Care Agent.
4. Specify what powers you grant to your Health Care Agent.
   • Review the list of decisions your Health Care Agent can make on your behalf, such as medical treatments, accessing medical records, moving you to another state for care, and dealing with legal matters to fulfill your wishes.
   • Cross out any powers you do not want to give to your agent.
   • Add any specific instructions, changes, additions, or limitations to your Health Care Agent’s powers at the end of this section.
5. If you ever decide to change your Health Care Agent, ensure you:
   • Destroy all copies of the relevant part of the Five Wishes document.
   • Notify your family, doctor, or any relevant party about the change.
   • Write "Revoked" across the name of any agent whose authority you are canceling, and sign your name to confirm the cancellation or change.

Once you have completed these steps, remember that the Five Wishes Document must be properly signed according to your state's laws to be valid. Consider sharing your wishes with your family, friends, and health care providers to ensure everyone is aware of your preferences. This document not only provides peace of mind for you but also for your loved ones, knowing they can respect your wishes during difficult times.

What is the Five Wishes document?

The Five Wishes document is a comprehensive living will that extends beyond medical issues to include personal, emotional, and spiritual wishes. It helps you specify how you want to be treated if you become seriously ill and are unable to make decisions for yourself. The form allows you to choose a health care agent, detail the medical treatment you desire or decline, describe how you wish to be comforted, indicate how you want people to treat you, and state what you want your loved ones to know. Valid in most states when signed properly, it encourages discussions with family, friends, and healthcare providers, ensuring your wishes are understood and respected.

Who should use Five Wishes?

Any person aged 18 and older can use Five Wishes, regardless of their marital status, parenthood, or health condition. It is particularly useful for adults who wish to document their care preferences and appoint someone to speak on their behalf. Over 19 million people have utilized it for its clarity and comprehensiveness. Many professionals in legal, healthcare, and religious organizations recommend it for planning ahead and facilitating discussions about care preferences among family members and caregivers.

Is the Five Wishes document legally valid in my state?

Five Wishes is legally valid in the District of Columbia and 42 states, substantially meeting each state's requirements for a living will. If you reside outside these locations, some states may not recognize Five Wishes as meeting all legal criteria for advance directives. Nonetheless, its detailed guidance can still serve as a beneficial tool for expressing your healthcare preferences. Doctors and healthcare professionals are encouraged to respect patient wishes, and having your desires documented can be incredibly helpful for your family and healthcare team, regardless of where you live.

How do I change to Five Wishes if I already have a different advance directive?

If you want to switch to Five Wishes from another form of living will or durable power of attorney for health care, simply complete and sign the new document according to the provided instructions. Upon signing, Five Wishes will replace any previous advance directives. To ensure clarity, destroy all copies of your old documents, inform your health care agent, family members, and doctor about the update, and ensure they understand your new wishes. This ensures that in critical situations, there's no confusion about which directive should be followed.

Filling out the Five Wishes Document is a crucial step in planning for future healthcare decisions, but many people make mistakes that could impact its effectiveness. One common error is not discussing their wishes with the person they choose as their health care agent. It's essential that the chosen individual understands and agrees to carry out their wishes. Without this critical conversation, there may be confusion or disagreement about care decisions in a time of need.

Another mistake is not being specific enough about their medical treatment wishes. The document allows individuals to outline the kind of medical treatment they want or do not want. Some may check a box or write a brief statement without providing detailed instructions or considerations unique to their values and preferences. This lack of specificity can leave significant decisions open to interpretation.

Additionally, many fail to consider how they want to be comfortable – addressing pain relief, personal grooming, and surroundings. This section is just as important as the medical treatments section because it impacts the quality of life in serious illness. Not addressing comfort wishes can result in care that doesn't align with personal preferences for comfort and dignity.

Lastly, a common oversight is not regularly reviewing and updating the document. People's wishes can change over time due to different life experiences, health status changes, or changes in relationships. If the Five Wishes Document isn't updated to reflect these changes, it may no longer accurately represent the person’s current wishes. Regularly reviewing and, if necessary, updating the document ensures that it always reflects one's most current wishes.

The Five Wishes Document is an integral tool for anyone preparing for the possibility of being unable to make decisions due to serious illness. Alongside this document, several other forms and documents can further support an individual's preparations. These documents help clarify various aspects of one’s personal, medical, and legal wishes, ensuring they are respected and followed.

• Advance Directive: A legal document specifying the types of medical treatment someone wishes to receive or avoid if they become unable to express their decisions due to illness or incapacity. It complements the Five Wishes by providing more detailed medical directions.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: Identifies a specific person, known as a healthcare proxy, to make medical decisions on behalf of someone if they are incapacitated. This form can specify limitations or specific powers granted to the proxy.
• Living Will: Focuses solely on end-of-life care and outlines the treatments or life-sustaining measures an individual wishes to receive or refuse if they're terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state.
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A medical order signed by a physician that prevents healthcare professionals from performing CPR if a patient's breathing or heartbeat stops. It’s specifically for individuals seeking to avoid aggressive life-saving measures.
• Organ and Tissue Donation Registration Form: Allows individuals to record their wishes regarding organ and tissue donation upon death. This form is crucial for those who want to make this generous gift, ensuring their wishes are known and can be acted upon immediately.
• Power of Attorney for Finance: Grants a designated agent the authority to handle financial affairs, like managing or transferring property, and financial decisions, especially when one is incapacitated.
• Personal Statement of Values and Life Goals: While not a legal document, this statement provides an opportunity to share personal reflections, values, and life goals with loved ones and healthcare providers, giving context to other legal instructions provided.

While the Five Wishes document offers a comprehensive approach to documenting end-of-life care wishes, these additional documents can enhance the clarity and enforceability of an individual's preferences. Together, they ensure a well-rounded plan is in place, covering a range of scenarios and wishes. It is advisable for individuals to consult with healthcare professionals and legal advisors when completing these documents to ensure that their wishes are clearly expressed and legally sound.

The Five Wishes document shares similarities with a traditional living will, primarily in how it addresses medical treatments a person wishes to receive or avoid at the end of life. Both enable an individual to make decisions regarding their healthcare in advance, specifying actions to be taken or withheld if they're unable to communicate those decisions due to illness or incapacity. Like the Five Wishes, a living will often serves as a critical guide for family members and healthcare providers, ensuring that a person’s healthcare preferences are understood and respected.

A durable power of attorney for healthcare (DPOA-HC) is another document similar to the Five Wishes. It expressly appoints another person to make medical decisions on the drafter’s behalf when they are incapacitated. The Five Wishes incorporates elements of a DPOA-HC by allowing an individual to nominate a health care agent, outlining that agent’s authority over healthcare decisions in great detail. Both aim to ensure that chosen representatives have the legal authority to make health care decisions in alignment with the person's wishes.

Advance directives broadly encapsulate what the Five Wishes document accomplishes. This general term refers to legal documents that guide choices for doctors and caregivers if someone is seriously ill and can't communicate. While the scope of advance directives can vary widely, they usually include elements found in living wills and powers of attorney for healthcare. The Five Wishes is differentiated by its comprehensive approach, addressing personal, emotional, and spiritual needs alongside medical and legal directives.

The POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form also shares similarities with the Five Wishes document. POLST is designed for individuals with serious illnesses or frailty, translating their wishes about medical treatment into actionable medical orders. While the Five Wishes document is broader and not exclusively for the seriously ill, both serve to clearly articulate a person’s preferences regarding treatments like intubation, mechanical ventilation, and other life-sustaining measures.

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is more specific than the Five Wishes document but is related in its healthcare directive nature. A DNR instructs medical staff not to perform CPR if a person's breathing or heartbeat stops. The Five Wishes extends beyond the scope of a DNR by allowing individuals to express their desires on a wide range of treatments and care options. However, expressing a wish not to have life-sustaining treatments in certain situations within the Five Wishes can essentially serve the same purpose as a traditional DNR order.

When filling out the Five Wishes Document form, individuals are presented with a thoughtful way to make their healthcare and personal wishes known for times when they might not be able to communicate those wishes themselves. It's crucial to approach this document with the seriousness and consideration it deserves, ensuring that your true desires are clearly and accurately conveyed. Below are essential do's and don'ts to keep in mind during the process:

1. Take your time to thoroughly consider each of the five wishes, reflecting on the personal, medical, emotional, and spiritual needs that are most important to you.

2. Discuss your wishes with the person you are appointing as your Health Care Agent, as well as with family members, to ensure they understand and are comfortable with your choices.

3. Clearly print your information, including your name and birthdate, to avoid any confusion about whom the Five Wishes Document belongs to.

4. Have the document properly signed as directed, which may require witness or notarization, depending on the state laws where you reside, to ensure it is legally valid.

1. Don't rush through the document. Avoid filling it out in a hurry or without giving each section careful thought.

2. Avoid choosing a Health Care Agent without discussing it with them first. The person needs to be willing and able to act on your behalf.

3. Don't leave any sections incomplete, unless they truly do not apply to your situation. An incomplete directive might lead to confusion or misinterpretation later.

4. Do not forget to update your Five Wishes Document if your circumstances or wishes change. This includes revising your Health Care Agent, medical treatment preferences, comfort measures, how you wish to be treated, and what you want your loved ones to know.

By carefully considering these do's and don'ts, you can ensure that your Five Wishes Document accurately reflects your preferences and is a meaningful tool for your loved ones and healthcare providers.

Many people have misconceptions about the Five Wishes Document, a comprehensive tool designed to guide end-of-life care decisions. Understanding these misconceptions is crucial for anyone considering filling out this document.

• Only for the Elderly: A common misconception is that the Five Wishes Document is only for the elderly. In reality, it is designed for any individual over the age of 18. Serious illness or accidents can happen at any age, making it important for adults of all ages to communicate their care preferences effectively.

• Legally Binding in All States: It is often believed that the Five Wishes Document is legally binding in all states once it is completed and signed. However, while it meets the legal requirements in 42 states and the District of Columbia, there are states where it may not be recognized as a legal document. Individuals are encouraged to check the legal status of Five Wishes in their state and potentially supplement it with state-specific legal forms if necessary.

• Replaces Discussions with Family: Some people think that once they complete the Five Wishes Document, there is no need to discuss their wishes with family members. On the contrary, this document should serve as a starting point for in-depth conversations with loved ones. Sharing and discussing your wishes ensures that your family understands and is prepared to honor your preferences during difficult times.

• Difficult to Revise: There's a belief that once the Five Wishes Document is completed, it is difficult to change. This is not true. Individuals can update their wishes at any time by completing a new document, destroying all copies of the old one, and informing their health care agent, family, and physicians of the update. Flexibility and the ability to reflect current wishes and circumstances are inherent in the design of the Five Wishes Document.

In conclusion, the Five Wishes Document is a valuable tool for outlining healthcare preferences in advance. By understanding and correcting these misconceptions, individuals can make informed decisions about their care and communicate their wishes effectively to their families and healthcare providers.

The Five Wishes Document offers a structured path to communicate personal, emotional, and spiritual preferences alongside medical choices in the event of serious illness. Understanding the key aspects of filling out and making use of this document can provide peace of mind and clarity for both the individual and their loved ones. Below are essential takeaways to navigate this process effectively:

• Five Wishes is a legal document for anyone 18 or older, allowing one to outline health care preferences and select a health care agent who will make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so themselves.
• The document is recognized in 42 states and the District of Columbia, ensuring its legal validity in a vast majority of jurisdictions within the United States.
• It is paramount to select a health care agent who thoroughly understands the signer's wishes, is willing and able to advocate on their behalf, and is over the age of 18 (or over the age of 21 in some states like Colorado).
• Discussing your wishes with family, friends, and especially your chosen health care agent, is crucial for ensuring your desires are thoroughly understood and respected.
• Filling out the Five Wishes Document requires checking boxes, circling options, or elaborating on your preferences through short sentences, simplifying the process of expressing one's health care desires.
• If you decide to change your health care agent or any other preferences, it is important to communicate these changes promptly and directly with your family, health care provider, and any others involved in your care.
• For the document to become effective, it must be signed and properly witnessed or notarized, depending on the specific requirements of one's state.
• In case someone wishes to revoke or change the document, they should destroy all copies of the current Five Wishes form, clearly write "Revoked" across the sections being changed, and notify their health care agent and family members of these modifications.

Utilizing the Five Wishes Document not only provides a mechanism for individuals to communicate their medical and personal care preferences but also relieves family members from the burden of making difficult decisions without guidance. It empowers everyone involved, ensuring the individual's wishes are upheld with respect and dignity.