Make decisions about the healthcare you want to receive if you're facing a medical crisis.
Advanced Care Planning downloadable PDF version:
Read about Advanced Care Planning in SPANISH on the NIA website.
Advanced care planning includes:
Deciding what types of treatment you would or would not want should you be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
Sharing your personal values with your loved ones.
Getting information on the types of life-sustaining treatments that are available.
Completing advance directives to put into writing what types of treatment you would or would not want – and who you chose to speak for you – should you be unable to speak for yourself.
Important Links to Help you Plan your Care in Advance:
[Please note: Opening a PDF requires a file viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader].
1. Download GEORGIA ADVANCE DIRECTIVES (pdf)
2. HIPPA Privacy Rules Summary [HIPPA Rules click to download .pdf]
3. Advance Care Planning Info on National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
4. Free Publications: ORDER FREE Publication from National Institute on Aging
Important Papers You Might Need:
Personal Records
Full legal name
Social Security number
Legal residence
Date and place of birth
Names and addresses of spouse and children
Location of birth and death certificates and certificates of marriage, divorce, citizenship, and adoption
Employers and dates of employment
Education and military records
Names and phone numbers of religious contacts
Memberships in groups and awards received
Names and phone numbers of close friends, relatives, doctors, lawyers, and financial advisors
Medications taken regularly (be sure to update this regularly)
Location of living will and other legal documents
Financial Records
Sources of income and assets (pension from your employer, IRAs, 401(k)s, interest, etc.)
Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid information
Insurance information (life, health, long-term care, home, car) with policy numbers and agents' names and phone numbers
Names of your banks and account numbers (checking, savings, credit union)
Investment income (stocks, bonds, property) and stockbrokers' names and phone numbers
Copy of most recent income tax return
Location of most up-to-date will with an original signature
Liabilities, including property tax— what is owed, to whom, and when payments are due
Mortgages and debts—how and when they are paid
Location of original deed of trust for home
Car title and registration
Credit and debit card names and numbers
Location of safe deposit box and key
Steps for Getting Your Affairs in Order
Put your important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. You can set up a file, put everything in a desk or dresser drawer, or list the information and location of papers in a notebook. If your papers are in a bank safe deposit box, keep copies in a file at home. Check each year to see if there's anything new to add.
Tell a trusted family member or friend where you put all your important papers. You don't need to tell this friend or family member about your personal affairs, but someone should know where you keep your papers in case of an emergency. If you don't have a relative or friend you trust, ask a lawyer to help.
Discuss your end-of-life preferences with your doctor. Your doctor can explain what health decisions you might have to make in the future and what treatment options are available.
Talking to your doctors will help ensure your wishes are honored.
Discussing Advance Care Planning with your doctor is free through Medicare during your annual wellness visit.
Give permission in advance for your doctor or lawyer to talk with your caregiver as needed. There may be questions about your care, a bill, or a health insurance claim. Without your consent, your caregiver may not be able to get needed information. You can give your okay in advance to Medicare, a credit card company, your bank, or your doctor. You may need to sign and return a form.
Important Legal Documents You May Need as You Age
Check with Georgia State laws, find out about the rules, requirements, and forms used because there are many different types of legal documents that can help you plan how your affairs will be handled in the future. Make sure you are getting the documents you want.
Wills and trusts let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die.
Advance directives let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. Two common types of advance directives are:
A living will gives you a say in your health care if you become too sick to make your wishes known. In a living will, you can state what kind of care you do or don't want. This can make it easier for family members to make tough healthcare decisions for you.
A durable power of attorney for health care lets you name the person you want to make medical decisions for you if you can't make them yourself. Make sure the person you name is willing to make those decisions for you.
For legal matters, there are ways to give someone you trust the power to act in your place.
A general power of attorney lets you give someone else the authority to act on your behalf, but this power will end if you are unable to make your own decisions.
A durable power of attorney allows you to name someone to act on your behalf for any legal task, but it stays in place if you become unable to make your own decisions.
Call Goldencare Hospice and Palliative Care at (855)655-0500 to help answer your questions.
Link to Legal and Financial Planning for People with Dementia: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/legal-and-financial-planning-people-alzheimers
Additional Sites to Help you Plan Your Care
AARP 888-687-2277 (toll-free) 877-434-7598 (TTY/toll-free) member@aarp.org www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/
CaringInfo National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization 800-658-8898 (toll-free) caringinfo@nhpco.org www.caringinfo.org
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 800-633-4227 (toll-free) 877-486-2048 (TTY/toll-free) https://www.cms.gov/ www.medicare.gov
Eldercare Locator 800-677-1116 (toll-free) eldercarelocator@n4a.org https://eldercare.acl.gov
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys 703-942-5711 naela@naela.org www.naela.org
National Elder Law Foundation 520-881-1076 info@nelf.org www.nelf.org
National Institute on Aging
301-496-1752
https://www.nia.nih.gov/about/staff (Staff Listing)
800-438-4380
800-222-2225 (toll-free)
800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)
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