The Five Wishes Document is a powerful tool that allows individuals to express their personal, emotional, and medical preferences for end-of-life care. This form empowers you to designate a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. By completing this straightforward document, you can ensure that your wishes are known and respected, providing peace of mind for both you and your loved ones.
Ready to take control of your healthcare decisions? Fill out the Five Wishes Document by clicking the button below.
In a world where many aspects of life are unpredictable, having a plan for your health care can bring peace of mind. The Five Wishes document is designed to help you express your desires regarding medical treatment and personal care in the event that you cannot communicate them yourself. This easy-to-complete form allows you to designate a trusted individual to make health care decisions on your behalf. It also covers what kind of medical treatments you want or don’t want, how comfortable you wish to be, and how you want your loved ones to treat you during difficult times. Beyond the medical aspects, Five Wishes addresses your emotional and spiritual needs, making it the first living will of its kind. Valid in most states, this document empowers you to take control of your health care decisions and ensures that your wishes are honored. It’s a tool that fosters important conversations with family and friends, alleviating the burden of guesswork during challenging moments. With over 19 million users, Five Wishes is recognized for its compassionate approach to end-of-life care, making it a vital resource for anyone aged 18 and older.
Filling out the Five Wishes document is a straightforward process. This form allows individuals to express their health care preferences in a clear manner. Once completed and signed, it becomes a valid document in most states, ensuring that your wishes are respected in times of need.
After completing the form, share it with your chosen Health Care Agent, family members, and your doctor to ensure everyone is aware of your wishes. Keeping copies in accessible locations is also advisable.
When filling out and using the Five Wishes Document form, there are several important points to keep in mind:
Da - Ensure all fields are filled out accurately to avoid discrepancies.
Basketball Evaluation Form Pdf - Evaluate how well the player catches and shoots the ball.
When planning for future health care needs, it's essential to have a comprehensive understanding of the various documents that can complement the Five Wishes Document. Each of these documents serves a unique purpose and can help ensure that your medical and personal preferences are respected when you are unable to communicate them yourself.
Understanding these documents and how they work together can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones. It is always advisable to discuss your wishes with family members and consult with a legal professional to ensure that all documents are completed correctly and reflect your desires accurately.
FIVE
WISH S®
M Y W I S H F O R :
The Person I Want too Make Car1e Decisions for Me When I Can’t
The Kind of Medical Treat2ment I Want or Don’t Want
How Comfortable3 I Want to Be
How I Want People4 to Treat Me
What I Want My Loved5 Ones to Know
print your name
birthdate
Five Wishes
There are many things in life that are out of our hands. This Five Wishes document gives you a way to control somethingg very
important—how you are treated if you get seriously ill. It is ann easy-to- complete form that lets you say exactly what you want. Once it is filled out and properly signed it is valid under the laws off most states.
What Is Five Wishes?
Five Wishes is the first living will that talks about your personal, emotional and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes. It lets you choose the person you want to make health care decisions for you if you are not able to make them for yourselff. Five Wishes
lets you say exactly how you wish to be
treated if you get seriously ill. It was written with the help of The American Bar
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sentences.
How Five Wishes Can Help You And Your Family
•
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you talk with your family,
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frie
without knowing your wishes.
nds and doctor about how you
wantt
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• You can know what your mom, dad,
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sly ill.
spouse, or friend wants. You can be
Your family membe
rs will not have to
there for them when they need you
t. It protects them
most. You will understand what they
guess what you wan
ously ill, because
really want.
if you become seri
How Five Wishes Began
For 12 years, Jim Towey worked closely with Mother Teresa, and, for one year, he lived in a KRVSLFHVKHUDQLQ:DVKLQJWRQ'&,QVSLUHGE\ WKLVILUVWKDQGH[SHULHQFH0U7RZH\VRXJKWD way for patients and their families to plan ahead and to cope with serious illness. The result is
2Five Wishes and the response to it has been
RYHUZKHOPLQJ,WKDVEHHQIHDWXUHGRQ&11 DQG1%&·V7RGD\6KRZDQGLQWKHSDJHVRI Time and MoneyPDJD]LQHV1HZVSDSHUVKDYH called Five Wishes the first “living will with a heart and soul.” Today, Five Wishes is available in 27 languages.
Who Should Use Five Wishes
Five Wishes is for anyone 18 or older — married, single, parents, adult children, and friends. More than 19 million people of all ages have already used it. Because it
works so well, lawyers, doctors, hospitals and hospices, faith communities, employers, and retiree groups are handing outt this document.
Five Wishes States
If you live in the District of Columbia or one of the 42 states listed below, youu can use )LYH:LVKHVDQGKDYHWKHSHDFHRIPLQGWRNQRZWKDWLWVXEVWDQWLDOO\PHHWV\RXUVWDWH·V requirements under the law:
Alaska
Illinois
Montana
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Arizona
Iowa
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6RXWK'DNRWD
Arkansas
Kentucky
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Tennessee
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Vermont
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Maine
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Virginia
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Maryland
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Washington
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Delaware
Massachusetts
West Virginia
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Florida
Michigan
Wisconsin
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Georgia
Minnesota
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Hawaii
Mississippi
Pennsylvania
Idaho
Missouri
Rhode Island
If your state is not one of the 42 states listed here, Five Wishes does not meet the technical UHTXLUHPHQWVLQWKHVWDWXWHVRI\RXUVWDWH6RVRPHGRFWRUVLQ\RXUVWDWHPD\EHUHOXFWDQW to honor Five Wishes. However, many people from states not on this list do complete Five :LVKHVDORQJZLWKWKHLUVWDWH·VOHJDOIRUP7KH\ILQGWKDW)LYH:LVKHVKHOSVWKHPH[SUHVV all that they want and provides a helpful guide to family members, friends, care givers and doctors. Most doctors and health care professionals know they need to listen to your wishes no matter how you express them.
How Do I Change To Five Wishes?
You may already have a living will or a durable power of attorney for health care. If you want to use Five Wishes instead, all you need to do is fill out and sign a new Five Wishes as directed. As soon as you sign it, it takes away any advance directive you had before. To make sure the right form is used, please do the following:
D
estroy all copies of your old living will
7HOO\RXU+HDOWK&DUH$JHQWIDPLO\
or durable power of attorney for health
members, and doctor that you have
care. Or you can write “revoked” in large
filled out a new Five Wishes.
letters across the copy you have. Tell
Make sure they know about your
your lawyer if he or she helped prepare
new wishes.
those old forms for you. AND
3
WISH 1
The Person I Want To Make Health Care Decisions For Me
When I Can’t Make Them For Myself.
f I am no longer able to make my own health care
• My attending or treating doctor finds I am no
I decisions, this form names the person I choose to
longer able to make health ca
es, AND
re choic
E
make these choices for me. This person will be my
• Another health care profe
ssional agrees
t
hat
Health Care Agent (or other term that may be used in
this is true.
MPLE
my state, such as proxy, representative, or surrogate).
If my state has a different
w
ay of finding that I am not
This person will make my health care choices if both
able to make health c
are choices, then my state’s way
of these things happen:
should be followe
d.
The Person I Choose As My Health Care Agent Is:
First Choice Name
Ph
one
Address
City/State/Zip
If this person is not able or willing to make thesee choices for me, OR is divorced or legally separated from me, OR this person has died, then these people aree my next choices:
Second Choice Name
e
Third Choice Nam
A
ddress
Phone
Picking The R
Your Health Care Agent
ight Person To Be
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DQGIROORZ\RXUZLVKHV<RXU+HDOWK&DUH
can make difficult
Agent should be at least 18 years or older (in
cares about you, and who
ily member may
&RORUDGR\HDUVRUROGHUDQGVKRXOGnot be:
decisions. A spouse or fam
not be the best choice because they are too
Your health care provider, including the
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owner or operator of a health or residential
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or community care facility serving you.
ho is able to stand up for you so that your
wishes are followed. Also, choose someone who
An employee or spouse of an employee of
is likely to be nearby so that they can help when
your health care provider.
you need them. Whether you choose a spouse,
SAMIDPLO\PHPEHURUIULHQGDV\RXU+HDOWK&DUH
6HUYLQJDVDQDJHQWRUSUR[\IRURU
Agent, make sure you talk about these wishes
more people unless he or she is your
and be sure that this person agrees to respect
spouse or close relative.
4
I understand that my Health Care Agent can make health care decisions for me. I want my Agent to be able to do the
following: (Please cross out anything you don’t want your Agent to do that is listed below.)
Make choices for me about my medical care
6HH DQGDSSURYHUHOHDVHRIP\PHGLFDOUHFRUGV
or services, like tests, medicine, or surgery.
and personal files. If I need to sign my name to
This care or service could be to find out what my
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health problem is, or how to treat it. It can also
sign it for me.
include care to keep me alive. If the treatment or
Move me to another
FDUHKDVDOUHDG\VWDUWHGP\+HDOWK&DUHAgent
state to get the care I need
or to carry out m
y wishes.
can keep it going or have it stopped.
•Interpret any instructions I have given in
this form or given in other discussions, according
WRP\+HDOWK&DUH$JHQW·VXQGHUVWDQGLQJRIP\ wishes and values.
&RQVHQWWRDGPLVVLRQWRDQDVVLVWHGOLYLQJIDFLOLW\ hospital, hospice, or nursing home for me. My +HDOWK&DUH$JHQWFDQKLUHDQ\NLQGRIKHDOWK care worker I may need to help me or take care of me. My Agent may also fire a health care worker, if needed.
•Make the decision to request, take away or not
JLYHPHGLFDOWUHDWPHQWVLQFOXGLQJDUWLILFLDOO\ provided food and water, andd any other treatments to keepp me alive.
•Authorize or refuse to authorize any medication or procedure needed to help with pain.
•Take any legal action needed to carry out my wishes.
•Donate useable organs or tissues of mine as allowed by law.
• Apply for Medicare, Medicaid, or other programs RULQVXUDQFHEHQHILWVIRUPH0\+HDOWK&DUH Agent can see my personal files, like bank records, to find out what is needed to fill out these forms.
/LVWHGEHORZDUHDQ\FKDQJHVDGGLWLRQVRU OLPLWDWLRQVRQP\+HDOWK&DUH$JHQW·VSRZHUV
______________________________________________________________________________
If I Change My Mind About Having A Health Care Agent, I Will
Destroy all copies of this part of the
• Write the word “Revoked” in large
Five Wishes form. OR
letters across the name of each agent
• Tell someone, such as my doctor or
whose authority I want to cancel.
6LJQP\QDPHRQWKDWSDJH
family, that I want to cancel or change
P\+HDOWK&DUH$JHQWOR
5
WISH 2
My Wish For The Kind Of Medical Treatment
I Want Or Don’t Want.
I b elieve that my life is precious and I deserve to be treated with dignity. When the timee comes that
I am very sick and am not able to speak for myself, I want the following wishes, and any other directions I have given to my Health Care Agent, to be respected and followed.
What You Should Keep In Mind As My Caregiver
•I do not want to be in pain. I want my doctor to give me enough medicine to relieve my pain, even if that means that I will be drowsy or sleep more than I would otherwise.
•I do nott want anything done or omitted by my doctors or nurses with the intention of taking my life.
•I want to be offered food and fluids by mouth, and kept clean and warm.
What “Life-Support Treatment” Means To Me
/LIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWPHDQVDQ\PHGLFDOSURFH dure, device or medication to keep me alive.
/LIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWLQFOXGHVPHGLFDO devices put in me to help me breathe; food and ZDWHUVXSSOLHGE\PHGLFDOGHYLFHWXEHIHHGLQJ FDUGLRSXOPRQDU\UHVXVFLWDWLRQ&35PDMRU surgery; blood transfusions; dialysis; antibiotics;
and anything else meant to keep me alive.
,I,ZLVKWROLPLWWKHPHDQLQJRIOLIHVXSSRUW treatment because of my religious or personal beliefs, I write this limitation in the space below. I do this to make very clear what I want and under what conditions.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
In Case Of An Emergency
Iff you have a medical emergency and ambulance personnel arrive, they may look to see if you have a Do Not Resuscitate form or bracelet. Many states require a person to have a Do Not Resuscitate form filled out and
signed by a doctor. This form lets ambulance SHUVRQQHONQRZWKDW\RXGRQ·WZDQWWKHPWRXVH OLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWZKHQ\RXDUHG\LQJ3OHDVH check with your doctor to see if you need to have a Do Not Resuscitate form filled out.
6
Here is the kind of medical treatment that I want or don’t want in the four situations listed below. I want my Health Care Agent, my family, my doctors and other health care providers, my friends and all others to know these directions.
Close to death:
If my doctor and another health care professional both decide that I am likely to die within a short period of WLPHDQGOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWZRXOGRQO\GHOD\WKH PRPHQWRIP\GHDWK&KRRVHoneRIWKHIROORZLQJ
❏ ,ZDQWWRKDYHOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW
❏ , GRQRWZDQWOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW,ILWKDV been started, I want it stopped.
❏,ZDQWWRKDYHOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWLIP\GRFWRU believes it could help. But I want my doctor to
VWRSJLYLQJPHOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWLILWLVQRW helping my health condition or symptoms.
In A Coma And Not Expected Too Wake Up Or Recover:
If my doctor and another health care professional both decide that I am in a coma from which I am not expected WRZDNHXSRUUHFRYHUDQG,KDYHEUDLQGDPDJHDQGOLIH support treatment would only delay the moment of my GHDWK&KRRVHoneRIWKHIROORZLQJ
Permanent And Severe Brain Damage And Not Expected To Recover:
If my doctor and another health care professional both decide that I have permanentt and severe brain damage,
(for example, I can open myy eyes, but I can not speak RUXQGHUVWDQGDQG,DPQRWH[SHFWHGWRJHWEHWWHUDQG OLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWZRXOGRQO\GHOD\WKHPRPHQWRI P\GHDWK&KRRVHoneRIWKHIROORZLQJ
❏ ,GRQRWZDQWOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW,ILWKDV been started, I want it stopped.
In Another Condition Under Which I Do Not Wish To Be Kept Alive:
If there is another condition under which I do not wish WRKDYHOLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW,GHVFULEHLWEHORZ,Q this condition, I believe that the costs and burdens of
OLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQWDUHWRRPXFKDQGQRWZRUWKWKH benefits to me. Therefore, in this condition, I do not want OLIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW)RUH[DPSOH\RXPD\ZULWH ´HQGVWDJHFRQGLWLRQµ7KDWPHDQVWKDW\RXUKHDOWKKDV gotten worse. You are not able to take care of yourself in DQ\ZD\PHQWDOO\RUSK\VLFDOO\/LIHVXSSRUWWUHDWPHQW will not help you recover. Please leave the space blank if \RXKDYHQRRWKHUFRQGLWLRQWRGHVFULEH
________________________________________________________________________________________
7
Th e next three wishes deal with my personal, spiritual and emotional wishes. They are important to me. I want to be treated with dignity near the end of my life, so I would like people to do the things
written in Wishes 3, 4, and 5 when they can be done. I understand that my family, my doctors and other health care providers, my friends, and others may not be able to do these things or are not required by law to do these things. I do not expect the following wishes to place new or added legal duties on my doctors or other health care providers. I also do not expect these wishes to excuse my doctor or other health care providers from giving mee the proper care asked for by law.
WISH 3
My Wish For How Comfortable I Want To Bee.
(Please cross out anything that you don’t agree with.)
•I do not want to be in pain. I want my doctor to give me enough medicine to relieve my pain, even if that means I will be drowsy or sleep more than I would otherwise.
•If I show signs of depression, nausea, shortness of breath, or hallucinations, I want my care givers to do whatever they can to help me.
•I wish to have a cool moist cloth put onn my head if I have a fever.
•I want my lips and mouth kept moist to stop dryness.
•I wish to have warm baths often. I wish to be kept fresh and clean at all times.
•I wishh to be massaged with warm oils as often as I can be.
•I wish to have my favorite music played when possible until my time of death.
•I wish to have personal care like shaving, nail clipping, hair brushing, and teeth brushing, as long as they do not cause me pain or discomfort.
,ZLVKWRKDYHUHOLJLRXVUHDGLQJVDQGZHOO loved poems read aloud when I am near death.
•I wish to know about options for hospice care to provide medical, emotional and spiritual care for me and my loved ones.
WISH 4
My Wish For How I Want People To Treat Me.
•I wish to have people with me when possible. I want someone to be with me when it seems that death may come at any time.
•I wish to have my hand held and to be talked
WRZKHQSRVVLEOHHYHQLI,GRQ·WVHHPWR respond to the voice or touch of others.
•I wish to have others by my side praying for me when possible.
•I wish to have the members of my faith community told that I am sick and asked to pray for me and visit me.
•I wish to be cared for with kindness and cheerfulness, and not sadness.
•I wish to have pictures of my loved ones in my room, near my bed.
•If I am not able to control my bowel or bladder functions, I wish for my clothes and bed linens to be kept clean, and for them to be changed as soon as they can be if they have been soiled.
•I want to die in my home, if that can be done.
8
WISH 5
My Wish For What I Want My Loved Ones To Know.
•I wish to have my family and friends know that I love them.
•I wish to be forgiven for the times I have hurt my family, friends, and others.
•I wish to have my family, friends and others know that I forgive them for when they may have hurt me in my life.
•I wish for my family and friends to know that I do not fear death itself. I think it is not the end, but a new beginning for me.
•I wish for all of my family members to make peace with each other before my death, if they can.
•I wish for my family and friends to think about what I was like before I became seriously ill. I want them too remember me in this way after my death.
•I wish for my family and friends and caregivers to respect my wishes even if
WKH\GRQ·WDJUHHZLWKWKHP
•I wish for my family and friends to look at my dying as a time of personal growth for everyone, including me. This will help me livee a meaningful life in my final days.
•I wish for my family and friends to get counseling if they have trouble with my death. I want memories of my life to give
WKHPMR\DQGQRWVRUURZ
•After my death, I would like my body to
EHFLUFOHRQHEXULHGRUFUHPDWHG
•My body or remains should be put in the
following
location
.
•The following person knows my funeral
wishes:.
If anyone asks how I want to be remembered, please say the following about me:
_________________________________________________________________________________
If there is to bee a memorial service for me, I wish for this service to include the following
OLVWPXVLFVRQJVUHDGLQJVRURWKHUVSHFLILFUHTXHVWVWKDW\RXKDYH
(Please use the space below for any other wishes. For example, you may want to donate any or all parts of your body when you die. You may also wish to designate a charity to receive memorial contributions. Please attach a VH DUDWHVKHHWRI D HULI\RXQHHGPRUHVSDFH
______________________________________________________________________________________
9
Signing The Five Wishes Form
Please make sure you sign your Five Wishes form in the presence of the two witnesses.
I, _________________________________, ask that my family, my doctors, and other health care providers,
P\IULHQGVDQGDOORWKHUVIROORZP\ZLVKHVDVFRPPXQLFDWHGE\P\+HDOWK&DUH$JHQWLI,KDYHRQHDQGKH RUVKHLVDYDLODEOHRUDVRWKHUZLVHH[SUHVVHGLQWKLVIRUP7KLVIRUPEHFRPHVYDOLGZKHQ,DPXQDEOHWRPDNH decisions or speak for myself. If any part of this form cannot be legally followed, I ask that all other parts of this form be followed. I also revoke any health care advance directives I have made before.
Signature:
___
Address:
Phone:
Date:
__
Witness Statement • (2 witnesses needed):
,WKHZLWQHVVGHFODUHWKDWWKHSHUVRQZKRVLJQHGRUDFNQRZOHGJHGWKLVIRUPKHUHDIWHU´SHUVRQµLVSHUVRQDOO\NQRZQWR PHWKDWKHVKHVLJQHGRUDFNQRZOHGJHGWKLV>+HDOWK&DUH$JHQWDQGRU/LYLQJ:LOOIRUPV@LQP\SUHVHQFHDQGWKDWKHVKH appears to be of sound mind and under no duress, fraud, or undue influence.
,DOVRGHFODUHWKDW,DPRYHU\HDUVRIDJHDQGDP127
•The individual appointed as (agent/proxy/
VXUURJDWHSDWLHQWDGYRFDWHUHSUHVHQWDWLYHE\ this document or his/her successor,
•7KHSHUVRQ·VKHDOWKFDUHSURYLGHULQFOXGLQJ RZQHURURSHUDWRURIDKHDOWKORQJWHUPFDUH or other residential or community care facility serving the person,
•$QHPSOR\HHRIWKHSHUVRQ·VKHDOWKFDUH provider,
•)LQDQFLDOO\UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKHSHUVRQ·V health care,
•An employee of a life or health insurance provider for the person,
•Related to the person by blood, marriage, or adoption, and,
•To the best of my knowledge, a creditor of the person or entitled to any part of his/her estate under a will or codicil, by operation of law.
(Some states may have fewer rules about who may be a witness. Unless you know your state’s rules, please follow the above.)
Signature of Witness
Signature of Witness #2
#1
Printed Name of Witn
Printed Name of Witness
ess
Notarization • Only required for residents of Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia
•If you live in Missouri, only your signature should be notarized.
•,I\RXOLYHLQ1RUWK&DUROLQD6RXWK&DUROLQDRU:HVW9LUJLQLD you should have your signature, and the signatures of your witnesses, notarized.
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10
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When filling out the Five Wishes Document form, it is essential to approach the process with care and consideration. Here is a list of ten things you should and shouldn’t do: