Advanced Directives

Advanced directives, which include living wills and powers-of-attorney, allow individuals to state in advanced how they wish to be treated at the end of their lives.  Advanced directives also can allow individuals to choose, in advanced, who will help them with financial or healthcare decision-making if they are no longer able to do so.

Learn more about Advanced Directives

• This guide, from the United Health Fund, describes healthcare powers-of-attorney, living wills, and Do Not Resuscitate Orders.  The guide is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.
• This articled describes financial powers-of-attorney, including durable, general, and limited.

Find Healthcare Powers-of-Attorney (POA) Forms

• Free healthcare POA forms, recognized in all 50 states and DC, are available online from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.
• The Five Wishes form is recognized in 42 states and DC.  The form is available in multiple languages for a modest fee.

Find an attorney to help with Financial POA

Find a subsidized attorney

• (DC Metro) – Find subsidized legal assistance in the DC metro area from Iona’s free senior Resource Guide.  Legal resources start on page 88.  Request a free copy of Iona’s Resource Guide by phoning 202-895-9448 or email Info@Iona.org.
• (national) – Find subsidized legal assistance from the American Bar Association website.

Find a private pay attorney

• (national) – Search for private pay elderlaw attorneys from the National Academy of Elderlaw Attorneys.

Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNR’s)

Learn about DNR’s at the Family Caregiver Alliance website.  Learn about DNR programs in the DC Metro Area:

• DC‘s EMS Comfort Care Program
• MD‘s DNR program
• VA‘s Durable Do Not Resuscitate Program

Free Caregiver Education Online Videos

A San Antonio-based CCRC is offering free online educational videos for caregivers.  The videos run 10-15 minutes in length, are in English and Spanish, and cover a variety of topics including transfers, dementia and home safety, fall prevention, nutrition, advanced directives, and public benefits.  Users are asked to enter their zip code.

Resources on Advanced Directives

Learn about advanced directives from these guides by the American Bar Association.  For the guide in English, click here; in Spanish, click here.

Find blank advanced directive forms for all 50 states and DC at Caring Connections website.

Read advice on making healthcare decisions for another from the American Bar Association’s publication, “Making Medical Decisions for Someone Else: A Maryland Handbook.”

Iona Information & Referral specialists are available Monday through Friday at 202-895-9448 or info@Iona.org to help identify aging-related resources for you and your loved ones.