Why everyone over 18 needs an Advanced Care Directive (ACD):

An Advanced Care Directive, also called a Living Will, is a powerful tool. No matter what your current age: it will enable you to determine and direct your critical care in situations when you may not be able to make your wishes clearly known. This situation can arise at the end of life – or after a sudden accident or a medical/emotional emergency.

We all prepare for a birth. Illness and death can be faced with the same thoughtful preparation and be experienced without panic and anxiety as a result.

There are many benefits to taking the time to prepare for these situations now. It will help to ensure that you are cared for exactly the way you desire. It will take a huge burden off your family, who are otherwise forced to guess and make difficult decisions on your behalf, without your guidance.

FRIENDS has developed an Advanced Care Directive in collaboration with lawyers, ER doctors and palliative nurses based on the statutory form provided in California Probate Code Section 4701. Our ACD has been called the “most detailed and thoughtful” ACD in California to date. It allows you to specify the way you want to be treated under various circumstances instead of just giving the common two choices of “full life support” or “pulling the plug”.

This document can make all the difference when you need to have your wishes heard!

You can contact us to schedule an individual consultation at your home or place of choice – or you can come join us at our “Advanced Care Directive Workshops”. We get together in groups of 5-10, help you fill out the documents together and discuss the many choices and questions surrounding the end of life. For $30 we offer you a highly informative workshop, the chance to talk openly about all things surrounding death and dying and a completed ACD to take home.