Homepage Blank 5 Wishes Document PDF Form
Table of Contents

When it comes to making critical decisions about your health care, having a clear plan in place can provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. The Five Wishes document serves as a powerful tool that allows individuals to express their personal, emotional, and spiritual needs, alongside their medical preferences. This form empowers you to designate a trusted person to make health care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. It also outlines the type of medical treatment you want or do not want, ensuring that your wishes are respected. Additionally, Five Wishes addresses how comfortable you want to be during treatment and how you wish to be treated by those around you. It even provides a space for you to share important messages with your loved ones. Designed to be user-friendly, this document can be completed easily, requiring only your signature to be valid in most states. With its origins rooted in the compassionate work of Jim Towey alongside Mother Teresa, Five Wishes has garnered widespread acceptance and is now available in multiple languages, making it accessible to millions. Whether you are single, married, or a parent, this document is intended for anyone aged 18 or older, ensuring that your voice is heard when it matters most.

Similar forms

The Five Wishes document is an important tool for expressing your healthcare preferences. It shares similarities with several other legal documents that also address healthcare decisions and personal wishes. Here are four documents that are similar to the Five Wishes document:

  • Living Will: A living will outlines your preferences for medical treatment in case you become unable to communicate. Like Five Wishes, it helps ensure your wishes are known, but it typically focuses more on medical procedures rather than personal, emotional, and spiritual needs.
  • Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows you to designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Similar to Five Wishes, it emphasizes the importance of appointing a trusted person to advocate for your healthcare preferences.
  • Durable Power of Attorney: This essential document ensures that your chosen representative can manage your finances and make decisions on your behalf, even if you become incapacitated. For more information on how to properly complete this form, visit OnlineLawDocs.com.
  • Advance Healthcare Directive: An advance healthcare directive combines elements of a living will and a durable power of attorney. It allows you to specify your healthcare preferences and appoint a decision-maker. Like Five Wishes, it serves to guide your family and healthcare providers in understanding your wishes.
  • Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order specifically instructs healthcare providers not to perform CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing. While it is more focused on a specific medical situation, it shares the goal of ensuring your wishes regarding medical treatment are respected, similar to the intent of Five Wishes.

Guidelines on Writing 5 Wishes Document

Filling out the Five Wishes document is an important step in ensuring your health care preferences are known and respected. This form allows you to express your wishes regarding medical treatment, comfort, and how you want to be treated in various situations. Follow the steps below to complete the form accurately.

  1. Print your name at the top of the document.
  2. Enter your birthdate in the designated space.
  3. Designate your Health Care Agent by filling in the name, phone number, and address of the person you want to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so.
  4. If your first choice is unavailable, list your second and third choices with their contact information.
  5. Review the powers you want to grant your Health Care Agent. Circle or check the options that apply to your wishes.
  6. Write any additional instructions or limitations regarding your Health Care Agent's powers in the space provided.
  7. Sign and date the document to make it valid.
  8. Share copies of the completed form with your Health Care Agent, family members, and your health care provider.

Once you have filled out the form, ensure that you keep a signed copy for your records. It’s advisable to discuss your wishes with your loved ones and your chosen Health Care Agent, so everyone is aware of your preferences. This proactive approach can provide peace of mind for you and your family.

Form Data

Fact Name Fact Description
Purpose The Five Wishes document allows individuals to express their medical, personal, and emotional care preferences in case they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness.
Legal Validity Once properly completed and signed, the Five Wishes document is recognized as a valid advance directive in most states across the U.S.
Target Audience Five Wishes is intended for anyone aged 18 or older, including individuals who are married, single, or have children.
State-Specific Applicability In the District of Columbia and 42 states, Five Wishes meets legal requirements for advance directives. States not listed may have different requirements.