Healthcare Decisions: Considering Your Future Options

Planning your future healthcare is not just something for older adults or those who are ill. Unexpected illness or accidents can affect anyone at any stage of life, making it essential to clearly communicate your wishes. Two key documents can help your loved ones and healthcare providers make decisions that reflect your values, beliefs, and preferences. Advance Directives and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) both offer guidance for care teams and families — but they serve different purposes.

Advance Directives

An advance directive, also called a living will or power of attorney, is a legal document that provides guidance for doctors and families.

Access an advanced directive form

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

POLST is a medical order that gives seriously ill patients more control over their end-of-life care by outlining the treatments they desire. A POLST form should be filled out collaboratively with a patient and their provider. For more information on POLST details for patients and families, please visit the links below based on your location.

• California
• Oregon
• Hawaii

Need help or have questions?

Adventist Health is here to support you and your family. If you are unsure what to do next or need guidance, contact your care team or primary care provider. We are here to answer your questions and guide you through each step of your healthcare journey.