An advance directive is a written, legal document that details your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make those decisions yourself. It serves as a vital guide for your doctor, family members and caregivers, ensuring they know exactly how you wish to be treated.

At Liberty Home Care and Hospice, we primarily use the Five Wishes document to help patients and families plan for the future. Created by the non-profit organization Aging with Dignity and inspired by the work of Mother Teresa, Five Wishes is often called the first “living will with a heart and soul.” It is unique because it addresses your personal, emotional and spiritual needs along with your medical wishes.

The Five Wishes Defined

The Five Wishes document is broken down into five clear sections that allow you to maintain control over your care:

1. The Person I Want to Make Care Decisions for Me: You designate a “Health Care Agent” (also known as a proxy or surrogate) to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
2. The Kind of Medical Treatment I Want or Don’t Want: This section serves as your living will, where you define what “life-support treatment” means to you and under what circumstances you would want it started or stopped.
3. How Comfortable I Want to Be: This section focuses on pain management, methods to improve personal comfort and personal care wishes.
4. How I Want People to Treat Me: In this section, you decide personal preferences, such as having music played, being cheered up rather than mourned or having someone hold your hand.
5. What I Want My Loved Ones to Know: This section allows you to express love, offer forgiveness and share your wishes regarding funeral arrangements or burial/cremation.

When You Should Complete an Advance Directive

Expressing your wishes now empowers your loved ones to make the best decisions during a crisis and helps avoid family disagreements. The best time to fill out an advance directive is now, while you are mentally competent and before a health crisis occurs. It is recommended that you review your document at least once a year or whenever there is a major change in your health.

Advance Directive Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the difference between a Living Will and a Health Care Power of Attorney?

In North Carolina, a Living Will specifically tells others you want to die a natural death if you are terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state. A Health Care Power of Attorney is the document where you name a specific person (your health care agent) to make medical decisions for you. Five Wishes is a comprehensive document that combines both of these elements.

Is Five Wishes legally valid?

Yes. Five Wishes was created with the help of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Law and Aging. It meets the legal requirements for 46 states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

What are the advance directive signing requirements in North Carolina?

To be legal in North Carolina, your advance directive must be:

• Written and signed by you while you are still able to understand your choices.
• Signed in the presence of two qualified witnesses.
• Notarized by a Notary Public.

Can I change my mind after I sign an advance directive?

Absolutely. You can cancel or change your advance directive at any time. To do so, you should destroy all old copies or write “REVOKED” in large letters across them. You must also inform your doctor and your health care agent of the changes.

Who should I choose as my Health Care Agent?

Choose someone 18 or older who knows you well and is someone you trust to follow your wishes even if they are emotionally difficult. It is important to discuss your wishes with this person before naming them to ensure they agree to respect your choices.

Where should I keep my completed advance directive?

Do not put it in a safe deposit box. Keep the original in a safe but accessible place in your home. Give copies to your health care agent, your doctor and your family members. You should also carry the Five Wishes Wallet Card with you so emergency personnel know who to contact.

When does Fives Wishes take effect?

Five Wishes only takes effect when you are no longer able to communicate. The person you have chosen to be your health care agent will use your Five Wishes document to help convey your specific wishes about your care. If you are still able to communicate, you can still make your own decisions about your care and will not need to use Five Wishes.

Get Started with Liberty Home Care and Hospice

Planning for the future provides peace of mind for you and your family. You can view a sample of Five Wishes here to see how simple the process can be.

Liberty Home Care and Hospice cap help facilitate the steps necessary to complete the document. Contact us today at 800-999-9883 or visit our website to learn more.

About Liberty Home Care and Hospice:

Liberty Home Care and Hospice is a part of Liberty Health, a family-owned company that has provided continuum of care services across the Carolinas and beyond since 1875. We are a leading provider of home health, palliative and hospice care throughout North Carolina. We also provide home health care in select counties in South Carolina and Virginia. For additional information about our locations and our comprehensive services designed to meet the evolving needs of our patients, please visit our website or call (800) 999-9883.