Health Planning
Health Planning: Your Voice in Your Care
Three documents — an Advance Health Care Directive, a Living Will, and a HIPAA Authorization — let you stay in control of your medical decisions even when you can't speak for yourself.
Download the Free GuideThe Three Documents Every Senior Should Have
These documents work together to ensure your wishes are known, your trusted people can act on your behalf, and your doctors and family have the clarity they need — especially in a crisis.
Health Directive
Also called an Advance Health Care Directive, this document states your preferences for treatments (like life support, resuscitation, or comfort care) so doctors and family know what you want at the end of life or in a serious medical crisis. It also names a trusted "health care agent" or proxy to make medical decisions when you cannot.
Living Will
A living will outlines your preferences for specific medical treatments — such as life support or artificial nutrition — if you're incapacitated and unable to communicate in terminal or end-of-life scenarios. In California, a "living will" is largely outdated; the Advance Health Care Directive combines it with a medical power of attorney for broader coverage.
HIPAA Authorization
A HIPAA authorization allows you to name specific people who can access your medical information and communicate with your doctors. Without it, even close family members may be blocked from receiving updates due to privacy laws — creating confusion and delays when fast decisions matter most.
Why Anyone Might Need These Documents
These documents aren't just for people who are ill or elderly. They're for anyone who wants their wishes respected — at any age, in any situation.
Health Directive
- Serious illness or accidents can happen at any age, so even healthy adults benefit from having their wishes documented.
- Without a directive, doctors may treat you more aggressively than you would want, family members may have to guess what you prefer, and disputes can cause emotional stress and legal delays.
HIPAA Authorization
- For seniors, this is especially important in unexpected situations where quick decisions may be needed. Having the right people authorized helps avoid confusion, delays, and frustration for loved ones.
- It gives you control over who is involved in your care and ensures your support system can step in seamlessly when needed.
In California, the Advance Health Care Directive (AHCD) is the recommended document — it replaces the older "living will" and combines it with a medical power of attorney for broader, more practical coverage. Forms are available for free from the California Attorney General's office and many Bay Area hospitals.
How to Get These Documents in Place
In California, an Advance Health Care Directive must be signed in front of two witnesses or notarized. Your witnesses cannot be your health care agent, your heirs, your doctors, or anyone employed by your health care provider.
Once completed, give copies to your primary care physician, your health care agent, key family members, and any hospital or specialist you see regularly. Keep the original somewhere accessible — not locked in a safe deposit box that no one can open in an emergency.