Both documents are part of an advance directive, and together, they help guide your care when you need it most.
Living Will
A living will documents your wishes about future medical treatments. It may include decisions about:
- Life support
- Feeding tubes
- Other life-sustaining treatments
It’s used when you’re unable to communicate your wishes.
Healthcare Representative
A healthcare representative is someone you trust to make decisions for you.
They can:
- Speak with your doctors
- Make treatment decisions
- Follow your wishes or act in your best interest if your wishes aren’t known
A living will and a healthcare representative work best together. Your living will puts your wishes in writing, while your healthcare representative can speak for you and make decisions if a situation is not clearly covered. Because not every medical situation can be predicted, having both can help ensure your wishes are understood and followed.
How to choose your healthcare representative
Choosing a healthcare representative is an important decision. This should be someone you trust to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
Look for someone who:
- Understands your values and wishes
- Can stay calm in stressful situations
- Is comfortable asking questions and talking with doctors
- Is willing to make difficult decisions if needed
- Will honor your wishes, even if others disagree
It’s also important to talk with that person ahead of time so they understand what matters most to you.