Advance Directive Information
An Advance Directive is a legal document provided by the state that outlines your wishes for medical treatment ahead of time. It puts your wishes in writing and can be a conversation guide to discuss your wishes with your loved ones. Loved ones and health care providers can refer to it for guidance when making decisions about your care if you are unable to make your wishes known.
Surveys show that 92 percent of people say that talking with your loved ones about end-of-life care is important, but only 32 percent have actually done so (Source: The Conversation Project National Survey 2018).
Advance Directive Does Two Primary Things
Specifies treatment preferences a person wants or doesn't want for end-of-life care
Names a health care agent, who is someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if you can no longer speak for yourself
The chaplains at Atrium Health Floyd and trained volunteers can provide education and assistance to help you complete an Advance Directive form. To request assistance, call 706-509-5199 or email us.
Advance Directive Form Downloads
The following links provide online Advance Directive forms, which can be downloaded and printed out.
See the four instructional videos below that include step-by-step instructions.
Georgia Advance Directive – English
Georgia Advance Directive – Spanish
Alabama Advance Directive – English
The AARP site provides links to forms from every state.
Who Makes the Decisions
Your Health Care Agent will make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to. If you don't choose one, state law will decide who it should be.
Treatments You Prefer
Determine ahead of time how you want to be treated if you have a terminal or irreversible condition. It is important for you to realize you might not always be able to make your wishes known.
If You Need a Guardian
Only a judge can chose a guardian, but you can make your wishes known by naming someone. Patients
often choose their Health Care Agent.
What Signatures Are NeededYou will need to get signatures from the right people to ensure your Advance Directive is completed properly and is valid.