Fill Out Your 5 Wishes Document Form

• Five Wishes is only for older adults. This document is designed for anyone aged 18 or older, regardless of their health status or age. It is important for young adults to express their wishes too.
• Five Wishes is a legally binding document everywhere. While it is valid in many states, it may not meet the legal requirements in all jurisdictions. Always check your state’s laws.
• Five Wishes only covers medical decisions. In addition to medical care, it addresses personal, emotional, and spiritual needs, providing a comprehensive approach to end-of-life planning.
• Having Five Wishes means I cannot change my mind. You can revoke or update your Five Wishes at any time. Simply fill out a new document and inform relevant parties.
• Five Wishes is too complicated to fill out. The form is designed to be user-friendly, requiring simple checkboxes, circles, or brief written responses.
• My family will have to guess my wishes if I don’t fill out Five Wishes. This document encourages open communication with loved ones, ensuring they know your preferences and reducing confusion during difficult times.
• Five Wishes is just another living will. Unlike traditional living wills, Five Wishes includes personal preferences about how you want to be treated, making it more holistic.
• Once I complete Five Wishes, I don’t need to discuss it again. It is important to have ongoing conversations with your family and health care agents about your wishes to ensure they are understood and respected.
• Five Wishes is only for people with terminal illnesses. Anyone can benefit from having a Five Wishes document, regardless of their current health status, as it prepares for any future medical decisions.
• Completing Five Wishes means I have to choose a specific treatment plan. You can express your general preferences without detailing specific treatments, allowing flexibility in your care based on circumstances.

The Five Wishes document is similar to several other important legal documents that help individuals express their healthcare preferences and appoint decision-makers. Here are eight documents that share similarities with Five Wishes:

• Living Will: A living will outlines your preferences regarding medical treatments in situations where you cannot communicate your wishes. Like Five Wishes, it focuses on your healthcare decisions during serious illness.
• Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows you to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. It is similar to the Health Care Agent designation in Five Wishes.
• Advance Healthcare Directive: An advance healthcare directive combines a living will and a durable power of attorney, allowing you to specify your medical treatment preferences and designate a decision-maker, much like Five Wishes.
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order specifies that you do not want to receive CPR or other life-saving measures. This document aligns with the medical treatment preferences expressed in Five Wishes.
• Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST): POLST is a medical order that outlines your wishes regarding treatments like resuscitation and artificial nutrition. It complements the directives found in Five Wishes.

• Firearm Bill of Sale: The Pistol Bill of Sale serves as a crucial document in Texas, ensuring legal compliance during the sale or transfer of a firearm between parties.

• Health Care Proxy: A health care proxy allows you to appoint someone to make healthcare decisions for you, similar to the Health Care Agent in Five Wishes, ensuring your wishes are respected.
• Personal Health Record: While not a legal document, a personal health record helps you keep track of your medical history and preferences. It can support the information provided in Five Wishes.
• End-of-Life Care Plan: This plan outlines your preferences for end-of-life care, including comfort measures and treatment options. It aligns closely with the intentions expressed in Five Wishes.

The Five Wishes document is a vital tool for individuals looking to express their healthcare preferences. However, it often works in conjunction with other important forms and documents. Below is a list of five commonly used documents that complement the Five Wishes form.

• Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care: This document allows you to designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. It is legally binding and ensures that your chosen representative can act according to your wishes.
• Marital Separation Agreement: A Marital Separation Agreement outlines the terms of a couple's separation, including asset division and responsibilities for debts. For more information, you can refer to the Separation Agreement.
• Living Will: A living will outlines your preferences regarding medical treatment in situations where you cannot communicate your wishes. It typically covers end-of-life care and other critical medical decisions.
• Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order: A DNR order is a specific request not to receive CPR or other life-saving measures if your heart stops or you stop breathing. This document is crucial for ensuring that your wishes regarding resuscitation are honored in emergencies.
• Advance Healthcare Directive: This document combines elements of a living will and a durable power of attorney. It allows you to specify your healthcare preferences and appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf, providing a comprehensive approach to your healthcare wishes.
• Organ Donation Registration: This document indicates your wishes regarding organ donation after death. It can be included as part of your advance healthcare directive or as a separate registration with your state’s organ donation registry.

Understanding these documents and how they work with the Five Wishes form can help ensure that your healthcare preferences are respected. By preparing these forms, you empower your loved ones to make informed decisions during difficult times.