National Healthcare Decisions Day - Minnesota

                                     April 16, 2010  

                   HEALTH CARE DECISIONS RESOURCES 

Sample Health Care Directives

University of Minnesota Extension Services - Minnesota Health Care Directive

Document forms are free.  Available in English and Spanish.

Aging with Dignity - Five Wishes 

The Five Wishes document helps individuals express how they want to be treated if seriously ill and unable to speak for themselves. The document is unique among all other living will and health agent forms because it looks to all of a person's needs: medical, personal, emotional, and spiritual.  Five Wishes is valid in 40 states, including Minnesota.  Single copies are $5; 25 or more, $1 each.  Available in 20 languages.

Questions and Answers About Health Care Directives

Minnesota Department of Health - Frequently asked questions about Health Care Directives 

Consumer's Tool Kit from ABA Commission on Law & Aging

Tool #1     How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy

Tool #2     Are Some Conditions Worse than Death?

Tool #3     How Do You Weigh Odds of Survival?

Tool #4     Personal Priorities and Spiritual Values

Tool #5     After-death Decisions to Think About Now

Tool #6     Conversation Scripts: Getting Past the Resistance

Tool #7     The Proxy Quiz for Family and Physician

Tool #8     What to Do After Signing Your Health Care Directive

Tool #9     Guide for Health Care Agents

Tool #10   Resources:  Advance Planning for Health Care

Information from Hospice Minnesota

• Sample Language for Health Care Directives
• Information for Your Health Care Agent
• How To Chose a Health Care Agent
• Powers of a Health Care Agent
• Expressing Wishes and Preferences
• Honoring Your Health Care Directive
• If You Already Have a Living Will
• Resource List, Forms, and Information