Make your decisions known
Advance care planning ensures your wishes are known by your family, friends and doctors. This becomes especially important if you ever have a serious illness or injury and are unable to communicate.
Advance care planning can help you:
- Understand your treatment options
- Define your health care goals
- Weigh your options about the care and treatment you may want
- Choose a health care agent and/or complete an advance directive
- Your health care agent is the person you choose to speak for you if you become injured or ill and unable to communicate
- An advance directive lets loved ones or a provider know your wishes regarding medical treatment. It often includes a living will
For additional information and forms about advance care planning, visit your state’s Advance Directives page.
Wisconsin: Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Advance Directives: Forms
Minnesota: Minnesota Board on Aging – Advance Directives
Illinois: Illinois Department of Public Health – Advance Directives
Source: UW Health Advance care planning, Have a say in your care, (accessed January 16, 2025).
