Create an Advance Care Directive
Information For Facilitators

Next Steps: Making Your Plan Work for You

Share Your Documents

Once your Advance Directive is complete, share copies with:

Your health care agent, any backup agents, and other friends or family members who you would like to have a copy should you be in crisis

Your primary care provider and any other specialists or providers you work with

Your hospital or health system (ask if they can upload it to your medical record)

Supportive individuals in your life – Peer recovery specialists, Sponsors, social workers or case managers, faith leaders, etc.

This is not a document to keep to yourself. This ensures your wishes are easy to find when needed.

Save and Store Your Documents

Keep a copy of your AD in a safe but accessible place. Let others know where it is. 

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Revise or Revoke When Needed

You can change or cancel your Advance Directive at any time. It’s a good idea to review your document when one of the “6 Ds” happens:

  • Decade – every 10 years, every 5 years is even better!
  • Death – of a loved one or health care agent
  • Divorce – especially if your agent was your spouse
  • Diagnosis – of a serious health condition
  • Decline – major changes in your health or function
  • Domicile - have you moved to another area with a new health system or to a new state with different AD laws

To update your Advance Directive

Create, date. and sign a new document

Share the updated version widely

Clearly mark the old version as revoked or destroy it