Advance Directives - Keeping You In Charge

Resources & Advocacy

Advance Care Planning

is a decision-making process about the care you would want to receive if you were unable to communicate or make decisions for yourself. It is based on understanding your values, personal reflection and discussion with loved ones, health care providers and others. The 2005 Montana Legislature authorized the Attorney General's Office to establish and maintain an End-of-Life Registry website for Montana citizens. The goal was to provide a place for citizens to securely store their advance directives online and to give authorized health care providers immediate access to them.

Advance Directive

is a legal document in which a person gives instructions for future medical care, or designates who should make treatment decisions if he or she is unable to participate in medical decisions due to serious illness or incapacity.

Power of Attorney for Health Care

is a document appointing another person you choose to make health care decisions for you if at any point in your life you cannot communicate or make your own decisions. Also known as a "durable power of attorney for health care." This is often confused with a financial power of attorney. One of the strongest reasons for naming someone as your agent is to have someone who can respond flexibly as your medical condition changes and deal with situations that you could not foresee. It is important you talk with that person about your future medical care and describe what you consider to be acceptable "quality of life."

Power of Attorney for financial purposes

is a document appointing another person to make financial or business decisions. It may be specially prepared to be valid if you ever become incapacitated. This would make it a durable power of attorney.

Living Will

is your directions to health care providers for your end-of-life medical treatment. If you have a terminal condition, are near death or unable to communicate your wishes, you may want to consider a living will.

Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR):

is a physician's written order instructing healthcare providers not to attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when someone's heart or breathing stops. A DNR order is written when a person is hospitalized or in a healthcare facility.

Comfort One

is a form filled out by health care professionals giving terminally ill persons who are not hospital inpatients an opportunity to choose the kinds of treatment they want in a medical emergency. By enrolling in Comfort One and displaying the proper identification, patients tell emergency personnel that they only wish to be given comfort care in an emergency. Comfort One is an out of hospital DNR and is recognized by emergency medical responders.

Forms

Forms for all Advance Directives are available through the Information and Assistance program and the Montana Long Term Care Legal Guide. A form that meets the requirements of Montana Law is also available from the End-of-Life Registry. The MSU Extension Service also has a declaration (living will) form that is available through your local County Extension Agent or online. Call the Senior Help Line at 728-7682 for end of life consult, forms or more information.

For commonly asked questions, please visit this section of the Montana End-of-Life Registry.