6. How do I make sure that my loved one’s wishes and needs are met?

Ask your loved one if he or she has completed any advance directives, which are documents that provide clear instructions about what medical care he or she wants (or doesn’t want). The most commonly recognized types of advance directives are the living will and the durable power of attorney for healthcare. If your loved one does not have any of these documents, talk to him or her about their wishes and the need to get them in writing. Be sure to discuss their wishes with other family members, and perhaps with important people outside the family such as a family friend, religious leader, or social worker.