Comprehensive Guide to Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Planning for future medical decisions is an important step for anyone who wants to maintain control over their healthcare. At Jay Johnson Law Firm in Gray, Tennessee, we help clients understand the differences between advance healthcare directives and living wills and how each document can reflect personal values and medical wishes. This introduction explains the basic purpose of these documents, who should consider them, and how they work together to ensure that healthcare preferences are honored when someone cannot make decisions independently. Our goal is to provide clear, practical guidance so you can make informed choices about your future care.
Advance planning is about more than legal forms; it’s about peace of mind for you and your loved ones. An advance healthcare directive allows you to name a healthcare agent and set instructions for medical care, while a living will typically records specific treatment preferences in certain situations. Both documents reduce uncertainty and family conflict by providing a clear record of your wishes. This paragraph gives a practical overview of what to expect when preparing these documents in Gray and how they fit into a broader estate planning strategy with Jay Johnson Law Firm in Tennessee.
Why Advance Healthcare Documents Matter for You and Your Family
Having legally effective advance healthcare documents helps ensure that medical decisions reflect your values and reduces the emotional burden on family members during stressful times. These documents provide legal authority to a chosen agent to make decisions consistent with your wishes, and they make your preferences clear to medical providers and hospitals. They can also prevent unnecessary or unwanted treatments and avoid delays in care while loved ones struggle to interpret what you would have wanted. For families in Gray and across Tennessee, clear directives promote dignity, communication, and practical readiness for unforeseen health events.
About Jay Johnson Law Firm and Our Approach to Advance Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm serves clients throughout Gray and Washington County with a focus on personalized estate planning and probate services. Our attorneys work closely with individuals and families to craft advance healthcare documents that reflect each client’s values and medical preferences. We emphasize practical solutions that are legally sound within Tennessee law and tailored to each client’s situation. The firm’s approach combines clear communication, careful drafting, and attention to the details that make directives effective in real-world medical settings, helping clients feel prepared and confident about future healthcare decisions.
Understanding Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills
Advance healthcare directives and living wills are legal tools that allow you to express medical preferences ahead of time. An advance healthcare directive can appoint a trusted person to act as your healthcare agent and provide broad instructions about treatment choices. A living will typically records specific preferences about life-sustaining treatments, resuscitation, and other critical care decisions under defined circumstances. Understanding how each document operates, how they work together, and how Tennessee law affects their validity is essential to creating a cohesive plan that health providers, family members, and courts can rely on if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Creating effective directives involves more than filling out a form; it requires thoughtful consideration of values, likely medical scenarios, and clear communication with loved ones. Directions should be written in language that addresses common medical decisions while remaining flexible enough to apply to unforeseen circumstances. Many people also include instructions regarding organ donation, pain management, and preferences for hospice or palliative care. This paragraph highlights practical tips for ensuring your documents are valid in Tennessee, properly executed, and readily available to medical personnel when they are needed most.
What Advance Healthcare Directives and Living Wills Are
Advance healthcare directives are written authorizations that allow a designated agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you cannot communicate. A living will is a complementary document that expresses your preferences for treatments such as mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, and resuscitation in specific conditions. Together they form a framework for honoring your medical wishes and provide guidance to healthcare providers and family members. In Tennessee, these documents should be executed according to statutory requirements to ensure they are recognized in hospitals and care facilities, making clarity and proper signing especially important.
Key Components and Steps to Create Valid Directives
Essential elements include naming a trusted healthcare agent, describing preferred and unwanted treatments, specifying circumstances under which directives should apply, and ensuring proper signatures and witness requirements under Tennessee law. The process typically involves discussing options with loved ones, drafting clear language to avoid ambiguity, and notarizing or witnessing the documents as required. It is also wise to provide copies to your agent, primary care physician, and family members, and to review and update directives after major life events. These steps help ensure the documents are practical, accessible, and legally effective when needed.
Key Terms and Glossary for Advance Healthcare Planning
Understanding common terms used in advance healthcare planning reduces confusion and aids decision-making. This section defines terms such as healthcare agent, durable power of attorney for health care, living will, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, incapacity, and surrogate decision-maker. Clear definitions help clients know which document addresses which issue and what authority they grant. Having a concise glossary can also assist families and providers in interpreting directives consistently, ensuring that your intentions are respected in clinical situations and during transitions of care across providers and facilities in Tennessee.
Healthcare Agent
A healthcare agent is an individual you appoint to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot decide or communicate. This person acts based on your stated preferences and best interests, guided by the advance directives you provide. Choosing an agent means selecting someone you trust, who understands your values and is willing to assume responsibility during stressful medical situations. The agent’s authority can include consenting to or refusing treatments, arranging care, and communicating with healthcare providers. In Tennessee, naming an agent in a properly executed directive helps ensure your wishes are carried out.
Living Will
A living will is a written directive that sets out your preferences for certain medical treatments under specified conditions, such as terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It typically addresses interventions like mechanical ventilation, artificial nutrition, and resuscitation, indicating whether you want those measures used to prolong life. The living will provides clear instructions to clinicians and family members when you cannot speak for yourself. Ensuring the document is signed and witnessed according to Tennessee law increases its effectiveness and reduces the potential for disagreement among caregivers and loved ones about appropriate care.
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
A durable power of attorney for health care is a legal document that appoints a person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapable of deciding. Unlike a living will, which expresses specific treatment preferences, this document grants decision-making authority and allows the appointed agent to address situations not anticipated in written instructions. This flexibility ensures that real-time medical decisions can be made consistent with your overall values and goals. Proper execution and distribution of the document in Tennessee help healthcare teams recognize the agent’s authority when it is needed.
Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order
A Do Not Resuscitate order is a medical directive indicating that cardiopulmonary resuscitation should not be performed if the heart stops or breathing ceases. A DNR is typically documented by a physician in a patient’s medical record and can be informed by the patient’s living will or agent’s instructions. It is important to coordinate a DNR with healthcare providers and ensure it is documented in the appropriate medical records, especially for patients who receive care across different facilities. Clear communication and proper documentation help ensure that the patient’s preferences are followed in emergency situations.
Comparing Your Advance Healthcare Options
Choosing between a living will, an advance healthcare directive that appoints an agent, and related medical orders depends on personal preference, health status, and the level of flexibility desired. A living will provides specific instructions for defined circumstances, while an appointment of an agent allows for broader decision-making authority tailored to unforeseen events. Some people use both documents together to combine clear treatment preferences with the flexibility of a designated decision-maker. Understanding the advantages and limits of each option helps individuals and families select a combination that best protects autonomy and supports practical medical decision-making in Tennessee.
When a Simple Directive May Be Appropriate:
Clear Treatment Preferences Are Established
A limited approach, such as a living will without an appointed agent, may be appropriate when you have very specific and well-considered treatment preferences that cover likely scenarios. If you are comfortable specifying exactly which interventions you would or would not want in terminal or permanently incapacitated conditions, a focused living will can leave little room for interpretation. It can be quicker to prepare and easier for medical staff to apply directly. However, this approach lacks flexibility for unexpected medical developments that are not clearly addressed in the document.
Close Family Consensus on Decisions
A limited directive may work well when family members already share strong agreement about your care preferences and are prepared to follow the written instructions. If relatives are aligned with your views and comfortable implementing a living will, the need for a designated decision-maker may be reduced. This harmony can simplify decision-making and minimize disputes. Even so, formal documentation remains important so that medical teams have a legal record of your wishes, particularly in hospitals or other care settings where staff require clear directives to guide treatment.
Advantages of a Comprehensive Advance Healthcare Plan:
Complex Medical or Family Situations
A comprehensive plan that includes both a living will and an appointment of a healthcare agent is often best when medical scenarios are uncertain or family dynamics could complicate decision-making. Appointing a trusted agent provides flexibility to handle unforeseen circumstances and allows for nuanced decisions that a static document might not cover. This approach reduces the risk of disputes, supports continuity of care, and ensures that someone familiar with your values is empowered to make timely decisions on your behalf when needed.
Desire for Both Specific Instructions and Flexibility
Combining a living will with an advance directive that names an agent gives both clear instructions for predictable situations and the flexibility to address unexpected medical developments. This dual approach preserves your voice through specific treatment statements while enabling a designated person to interpret those wishes in unanticipated contexts. It can also cover additional matters such as preferences for pain management, spiritual considerations, and end-of-life location, providing comprehensive guidance that healthcare teams and family members can follow with confidence.
Benefits of Taking a Comprehensive Approach
A comprehensive advance healthcare plan buffers families against uncertainty and reduces the likelihood of conflict during stressful medical crises. By documenting preferences and appointing a decision-maker, you create a clear roadmap for clinicians and loved ones. The combination helps ensure consistency across care settings and makes it more likely that your values will guide treatment choices. Additionally, having formal documents in place may speed medical decision-making and prevent unnecessary delays while providers seek legal or family guidance about appropriate care.
Another benefit is improved communication among family members and medical teams. Drafting these documents often prompts important conversations about goals of care, preferred interventions, and quality-of-life priorities. Those discussions can ease the emotional burden on loved ones who may otherwise face difficult choices without clear direction. Furthermore, a comprehensive plan can be reviewed and updated over time to reflect changes in health, relationships, or personal views, ensuring the documents remain relevant and useful throughout life’s transitions.
Greater Clarity and Consistency in Care
Detailed directives paired with a named agent provide both instruction and authority, which improves clarity for providers making urgent decisions. Clear documents reduce the chance of inconsistent care and help ensure that treatment aligns with personal goals. This alignment is particularly important when transfers between facilities occur or when multiple clinicians are involved. Consistency in documentation and communication supports better coordination of care and gives families confidence that decisions reflect the patient’s values rather than ad hoc judgments made under pressure.
Reduced Family Stress and Faster Decision-Making
Having a clear plan and a designated decision-maker relieves loved ones of the burden of guessing what you would have wanted at a time when emotions run high. This arrangement speeds decision-making by giving healthcare teams a single point of contact and a legal basis for honoring treatment choices. Removing ambiguity also decreases the likelihood of family disputes and the potential for prolonged disagreements that can delay appropriate care. In short, a comprehensive plan helps families focus on support and comfort rather than legal uncertainty during difficult moments.
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Practical Tips for Preparing Advance Healthcare Documents
Choose an Agent Who Knows Your Values
Selecting a healthcare agent is one of the most important decisions in the process. Pick someone you trust who understands your medical and personal values, can communicate calmly with medical staff, and will be available during times of crisis. Discuss your preferences in detail and provide written guidance so the agent can act confidently on your behalf. Also consider naming alternates in case your primary agent is unavailable. Good communication and thoughtful selection help ensure decisions are consistent with your wishes and reduce stress for family members.
Document Specific Preferences and Keep Copies Accessible
Review and Update Documents Regularly
Life changes such as marriage, divorce, new diagnoses, or changes in relationships may affect who you want to serve as an agent or the treatment preferences you hold. Review advance directives periodically and after major life events to confirm they still reflect your wishes. Make any necessary updates and redistribute copies to relevant people and medical providers. Regular reviews keep documents current and aligned with your goals, making them more effective in guiding care and reducing confusion when medical decisions become necessary.
Why You Should Consider Advance Healthcare Documents
Advance healthcare documents protect your right to direct medical care and relieve family members of the difficult task of guessing your wishes. They ensure that a trusted person can make timely decisions if you cannot, and they provide guidance for clinicians who must implement care plans. For people of any age, creating these documents is a proactive measure that addresses the unpredictable nature of illness and incapacity. Having a clear plan in place promotes dignity in care and provides peace of mind that decisions will be aligned with your values and priorities.
These legal tools also streamline communication with healthcare providers and can prevent delays in treatment or unnecessary interventions. In hospital settings and long-term care facilities, clear directives speed the process of determining appropriate care and reduce the potential for disagreement among family members or between family and medical teams. For residents of Gray and Washington County, taking these steps ensures that your medical preferences are documented under Tennessee law and readily accessible if an urgent medical situation arises.
Common Situations Where Advance Directives Are Beneficial
Advance directives are useful in many circumstances, including planning for major surgeries, chronic illness management, progressive neurological conditions, and any situation where sudden incapacity could occur. They are especially valuable for older adults, those with serious health conditions, and individuals who travel frequently or live alone. Having directives in place ahead of time reduces uncertainty, clarifies expectations for end-of-life care, and ensures a named agent can make prompt decisions. Proactive planning helps families and clinicians respond to crises with a clear understanding of the patient’s wishes.
Before Major Medical Procedures
Before undergoing major surgery or an invasive medical procedure, it is wise to document your healthcare preferences so that, if complications arise, your wishes are known and respected. Advance directives can address whether you want life-sustaining interventions, specify pain management preferences, and name an agent to make decisions if you are temporarily unable to do so. Preparing these documents in advance helps medical teams act quickly and according to your instructions, which can be particularly important during emergency care or intensive postoperative situations.
When Managing Progressive Illness
For progressive illnesses that may lead to gradual loss of decision-making capacity, advance directives allow you to set guidelines for future care while you can still communicate. They enable you to state preferences about palliative care, hospice care, and the use of life-sustaining measures in later stages of disease. Having these instructions documented can ease the decision-making burden on family members and ensure that treatment aligns with your goals for comfort and quality of life as the condition evolves.
After Major Life Changes
Life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or relocation may prompt a reassessment of who should make healthcare decisions on your behalf and what care you prefer. Reviewing and updating advance directives after these changes ensures that documents reflect current relationships and wishes. It is also a good time to communicate those wishes to family members and healthcare providers. Regular updates maintain the relevance and legal reliability of your directives for future medical decisions.
Local Legal Assistance for Gray Residents
Jay Johnson Law Firm is available to assist Gray and Washington County residents with drafting advance healthcare directives and living wills that comply with Tennessee law. We work with clients to clarify preferences, select appropriate agents, and ensure documents are executed correctly. Our goal is to make the process approachable and to deliver documents that can be used confidently by medical teams and family members. By providing tailored guidance and practical tips, we help clients establish plans that support dignity in care and reduce uncertainty for loved ones.
Why Choose Jay Johnson Law Firm for Your Healthcare Planning
Jay Johnson Law Firm has experience helping Tennessee residents prepare clear and effective advance healthcare directives and living wills. We focus on practical legal drafting, ensuring that documents meet statutory requirements and are written in language that medical providers can apply. Our process includes thoughtful discussion of values and treatment preferences so documents reflect personal goals. We also advise on distribution and storage so directives are available when needed. The firm’s local knowledge helps clients in Gray navigate healthcare planning with confidence and clarity.
We prioritize clear communication with clients and their families to reduce potential conflicts and ensure everyone understands the plan. The firm guides clients through decision points such as agent selection, scope of authority, and specific treatment directives. We also assist with updates and provide practical suggestions for making documents accessible to medical teams. By addressing common concerns and offering straightforward solutions, we help families prepare for unforeseen medical issues and focus on providing comfort and support during times of illness.
Our goal is to make advance healthcare planning manageable and meaningful, helping clients document their wishes in a way that healthcare professionals can follow. We explain Tennessee-specific requirements and recommend best practices for keeping directives current and accessible. Clients receive personalized attention, clear explanations of options, and assistance with proper execution and distribution. This ensures your directives are more likely to be effective when decisions must be made, giving you and your family greater assurance and peace of mind.
Take the Next Step to Protect Your Healthcare Wishes
How We Handle Advance Healthcare Planning
Our process begins with a conversation about your values, medical preferences, and who you trust to make decisions. We explain available documents, recommend the combination that best fits your situation, and draft clear directives tailored to your goals. After reviewing the documents with you, we ensure proper signing and witnessing as required by Tennessee law and provide guidance on where to store copies. We also offer follow-up to make updates when circumstances change, helping ensure your plan remains current and accessible to those who need it.
Step One: Initial Consultation and Values Discussion
The initial meeting focuses on understanding your health priorities, values, and the medical situations you wish to address. We discuss the roles of living wills and appointment of a healthcare agent, and explore any special considerations such as religious beliefs, pain management preferences, and organ donation wishes. This conversation forms the foundation for drafting documents that faithfully reflect your goals and provides an opportunity to ask questions about Tennessee law and practical implementation in medical settings.
Discussing Personal Values and Medical Goals
During the consultation we help you articulate what matters most regarding quality of life and acceptable medical interventions. This includes conversations about scenarios you would want avoided or treatments you would prefer. Identifying these priorities helps tailor directives so they address real choices clinicians and agents may face. Clear articulation of values reduces ambiguity and supports decision-making that aligns with your preferences when you are not able to speak for yourself.
Selecting a Trusted Decision-Maker
We guide you through choosing a healthcare agent by discussing qualities to look for such as availability, communication skills, and understanding of your wishes. We also talk about naming alternates and specifying the scope of authority to avoid confusion. Guidance on communicating expectations to the chosen person helps prepare them to act responsibly if called upon, and ensures they feel supported in carrying out sensitive decisions on your behalf.
Step Two: Drafting and Reviewing Documents
Once preferences are clarified, we draft advance healthcare documents tailored to your needs and consistent with Tennessee legal requirements. Drafting includes specific language for treatment preferences, agent authority, and any additional instructions. We then review the documents with you to ensure they reflect your intentions accurately and answer any remaining questions. This collaborative review helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures the final documents are ready for proper execution and distribution.
Preparing Clear, Actionable Language
Clear, actionable language reduces ambiguity and helps medical teams apply your wishes in clinical settings. We avoid vague terms and instead use specific statements about interventions, levels of care, and conditions under which directives apply. This approach makes the documents more practical and reliable when quick decisions are necessary. Tailoring the language to typical medical scenarios improves the likelihood that clinicians will interpret and follow your instructions accurately.
Coordinating with Medical Providers
We recommend sharing directives with your primary care physician and any treating specialists so they can note the instructions in your medical record. Coordinating with providers allows the directives to be integrated into clinical planning and ensures that staff are aware of your preferences before an emergency occurs. This proactive step helps avoid delays or confusion and promotes consistent application of your care instructions across different healthcare settings.
Step Three: Execution, Distribution, and Review
The final stage ensures documents are executed according to Tennessee requirements, witnessed or notarized as appropriate, and distributed to key people. We advise where to file copies, how to inform your agent and family, and how to provide documentation to healthcare providers. We also schedule periodic reviews to update directives after major life changes, ensuring they remain current and legally effective. This completion phase makes your plan usable and accessible when decisions must be made.
Proper Signing and Witnessing
Valid execution is essential for directives to be recognized by healthcare facilities. We ensure that documents are signed and witnessed or notarized in accordance with Tennessee law so they will be accepted by hospitals and clinics. Proper formalities reduce the risk of disputes and make it easier for agents and providers to act promptly. We also provide guidance on statutory requirements and practical steps for ensuring the documents are preserved and accessible when needed.
Sharing Documents with Key People
After execution, distribute copies to your appointed agent, primary care physician, relevant family members, and any long-term care providers you use. Inform them of where original documents are kept and consider filing a copy with your medical record when possible. Keeping multiple accessible copies reduces the chance that critical directives are unavailable during an emergency and ensures that everyone involved in care understands your wishes and the appointed authority for decision-making.
Frequently Asked Questions About Advance Healthcare Directives
What is the difference between an advance healthcare directive and a living will?
An advance healthcare directive typically appoints a person to make medical decisions on your behalf when you cannot speak for yourself, while a living will records specific treatment preferences for certain medical conditions. The directive that appoints an agent gives authority to that person to address a wide range of medical scenarios, including those not specifically mentioned in a written list. A living will often complements that authority by stating clear wishes about interventions like ventilators or feeding tubes under particular circumstances.Together, these documents work best when used in combination: the living will provides specific guidance and the appointed agent provides flexibility. Having both reduces ambiguity and helps clinicians and family members implement care consistent with your values. Ensuring documents are properly executed under Tennessee rules increases their legal effectiveness in medical settings.
How do I choose the right person to be my healthcare agent?
Choosing the right healthcare agent means selecting someone you trust who understands your values, can communicate with medical staff, and is willing to take responsibility during stressful situations. Consider a person who is likely to be available when needed and who can make decisions consistent with the preferences you express. It is often helpful to discuss specific scenarios and your general approach to medical choices before naming the person.You may also name alternate agents in case the primary agent is unavailable. Clear communication with the chosen agent about your wishes, preferred treatments, and where documents are kept will better prepare them to act on your behalf. Providing written guidance to the agent can reduce uncertainty during critical moments.
Do advance directives need to be notarized in Tennessee?
Tennessee has formal requirements for executing advance healthcare documents, and while notarization is not always mandatory for every form, proper signing and witnessing are crucial to ensure the documents will be accepted by healthcare providers. Specific statutory formalities vary, so it is important to follow the state’s guidelines when finalizing documents. Ensuring compliance with Tennessee procedures reduces the risk that a document will be questioned or rejected by a hospital or other facility.To avoid problems, many people choose to have directives reviewed by legal counsel or signed with the assistance of a notary or witnesses, depending on the form. This extra care helps ensure validity and makes it easier for agents and medical teams to rely on the documents when making urgent decisions.
Can I change or revoke my living will or advance directive?
Yes, you can change or revoke your living will or advance directive at any time while you have capacity to make decisions. Changes should be made in writing and executed with the same formalities required for the original document, and you should notify your healthcare agent and providers of any updates. It is also helpful to destroy older copies and replace them with the updated version so there is no confusion about which document is current.Regular reviews after major life events or health changes ensure that directives reflect your current wishes. If you revoke or amend a directive, let all relevant parties know and provide copies of the new version to your agent, doctor, and family members so the updated instructions will be followed.
Will hospitals and doctors follow my living will?
Hospitals and doctors generally follow living wills and advance directives when they are valid and properly documented. Medical personnel rely on these documents to guide treatment decisions that align with the patient’s preferences, and having a designated agent helps when choices require interpretation. Properly executed directives that are available in the medical record increase the likelihood they will be honored in clinical settings.If questions arise about the documents’ validity or interpretation, providers may seek clarification from the appointed agent or consult legal counsel. Clear, well-drafted directives and open communication with your healthcare team help ensure your wishes are respected and reduce the chance of disputes during critical moments.
What happens if I become incapacitated without any directives?
If you become incapacitated without directives, medical decisions will typically fall to family members under Tennessee’s default surrogate decision-making rules or to a court-appointed guardian if family cannot agree. This process can lead to delays, uncertainty, and potential disputes among relatives about the appropriate course of action. Without written guidance, loved ones may struggle to determine which choices align with your values.Proactive planning avoids these risks by giving authority to a trusted agent and documenting your treatment preferences. Preparing directives in advance ensures faster decision-making and better alignment between your wishes and the care you receive, reducing emotional stress for family members and medical teams.
Should I include organ donation preferences in my directive?
Including organ donation preferences in your advance directive is a meaningful way to communicate your wishes and ensure they are considered at the appropriate time. Many directives include a section about organ and tissue donation so that medical staff know whether you consent to donation. Recording your decision formally can reduce uncertainty and make it easier for your family and clinicians to follow your wishes during end-of-life care.It is also helpful to register your donation preference with the state or on a donor registry and to discuss your decision with family members. Clear documentation and communication make it more likely that your donation wishes will be honored if the situation arises.
How often should I review or update my advance directives?
You should review your advance directives periodically and after any significant life change, such as marriage, divorce, a new diagnosis, or a change in relationships. Regular review ensures the documents still reflect your current wishes and that the person you named as agent remains willing and able to serve. Updating documents when circumstances change helps maintain their relevance and legal reliability.Even without major life events, reviewing directives every few years is a prudent practice. When you update documents, redistribute copies to your agent, physician, and family so everyone is aware of the current instructions and can act accordingly if needed.
Can an agent refuse life-sustaining treatment on my behalf?
An appointed agent can make decisions about life-sustaining treatment on your behalf if the authority is granted in the directive and you are unable to decide. The agent’s decisions should reflect your known wishes and values; they are meant to act in accordance with the guidance you provided in the documents. Tennessee law outlines the scope of an agent’s authority and the formalities for exercising it, so clear documentation helps medical teams accept the agent’s decisions.If an agent’s decision conflicts with medical advice or family members challenge it, providers may seek clarification or legal guidance. Choosing an agent who understands your preferences and can communicate clearly helps prevent disputes and ensures decisions are consistent with your wishes.
How do I make sure my advance directive is available to medical staff?
To ensure your advance directive is available to medical staff, place a copy in your medical record and give copies to your primary care physician and any specialists you see regularly. Provide a copy to your appointed agent and family members, and keep an accessible original at home. Some people also carry a wallet card or store documents in an online medical record portal so providers can access them quickly in an emergency.Inform your agent and family of the document’s location and how to obtain it. Proactive distribution and communication increase the likelihood that medical teams will have prompt access to your directives when urgent decisions must be made.