Planning Ahead
Thinking about future healthcare decisions can feel stressful and difficult, but planning ahead can give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Advance directives allow you to share your wishes for your healthcare and identify someone you trust to make decisions for you if you are unable to make them yourself.
Once you have completed your advance directives, talk with your family and the person you’ve chosen to make healthcare decisions for you. Keep a copy for your records and provide a copy to your primary care provider so it can be included in your medical record. If ou update your wishes, be sure to provide updated copies to everyone who needs them.
Living Will
A Living Will allows you to document your wishes about life-sustaining treatment if you have a terminal condition or are permanently unconscious and unable to make your own healthcare decisions. It can help your healthcare team and loved ones understand the care you would want in these circumstances.
It is important to note that a Living Will does not prevent you from receiving medications care that provide comfort or relieves pain.These are considered life-sustaining and are not affected by the Living Will.
In Iowa, a Living Will must be signed and dated and either witnessed by two people or acknowledged before a notary public. Witnesses must meet certain legal requirements and cannot include your attending healthcare provider, an employee of your attending healthcare provider, the person you have named as your healthcare attorney, or anyone under age 18.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care allows you to name someone you trust to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to make those decisions yourself. You can also include instructions about your wishes and the types of care you would or would not want.
Choosing a healthcare decision-maker is an important conversation. Talk with the person you choose about your values, wishes, and what matters most to you so they feel prepared to speak on your behalf if the need arises.
In Iowa, a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care must be signed and either witnessed by two people or acknowledged before a notary public. Certain people cannot serve as witnesses, including your attending healthcare provider, an employee of your attending healthcare provider, the person you name as your healthcare attorney, and anyone under age 18. At least one witness must also meet Iowa’s requirements regarding relationship to you.
Resources
Click on links to save or print advance directive resources.