While a doctor or a lawyer will routinely ask you if you have an advance directive or living will, the conversation should truly start at home because it is not mainly about medical treatments or legal rights; it’s about making you the decision maker, it’s about your values, and it’s about what makes your life worth living.
For example, some people believe life is worth living only if they can feed, bathe, take care of themselves, or be free from pain. Others say life is worth living if they can talk to family and friends. Even some people say life is always worth living no matter how sick they may become. There are no right or wrong choices; what matters most is that you have taken the time to make choices and explain your choices to your loved ones.
While it is important to consider your values and what is important to you during the advance care planning process, it is just as important to spend time thinking about who you would choose to be your health care decision maker. This person could also be referred to as a health care agent or a durable medical power of attorney. Be careful not to confuse this with a financial power of attorney which is equally as important, but different.
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