Advance Directives are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. Advance Directives guide choices for medical decisions for healthcare providers, family members and caregivers as they are the instructions you give regarding your future care.

By planning ahead, an Advance Directive will give you a voice in making health care decisions if you become unable to understand or speak for yourself, avoid unnecessary suffering and relieve caregivers of decision-making burdens during moments of crisis or grief. You also help reduce confusion or disagreement about the choices you would want people to make on your behalf.

Advance Directives aren’t just for older adults. Unexpected end-of-life situations can happen at any age, so it’s important for all adults to prepare these documents.

Links to the Vermont and New Hampshire state-specific forms can be found by visiting the following:  

Vermont Advance Directives
New Hampshire Advance Directives