The smart way to manage & update your wishes if you can’t communicate.
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Living wills, also known as Advanced Directives, are legal documents which outline what treatments you want to refuse. It can only be used if you can’t’ communicate and won’t be legally binding until signed by you and two witnesses.
Not all your wishes can be made legal, but some can. In those cases, you will need to print and sign the documents with a witness or notary to make them legal. Read more about the legalisation process here.
Included in every Dignify plan is a personalised QR code which doctors and carers can scan and get access to your wishes when you can’t communicate.
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Imagine Sarah, a vibrant woman who has enjoyed a fulfilling career, raised a family, and now spends her time traveling, pursuing her hobbies, and cherishing moments with her loved ones. Sarah is diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition that gradually affects her ability to make decisions and communicate effectively.
As her condition worsens, she becomes unable to express her wishes regarding medical treatment. Fortunately, Sarah's advance decision, or “living will”, comes into effect. Her family, caregivers, and medical team refer to the document, which clearly states her preferences for care and outlines specific treatments she does not wish to receive under certain circumstances.
For example, Sarah's document indicates that she does not want to be resuscitated if her condition deteriorates to the point where she is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery. It also specifies that she prefers palliative care to aggressive medical interventions that may prolong her suffering without improving her quality of life.
As Sarah's condition progresses, her medical team respects her wishes as outlined in the document. They provide comfort-focused care, manage her symptoms effectively, and ensure that she remains as comfortable as possible in her final days.
Sydney has two children who don't get on. They disagree about a lot of things, especially about how they think their mother should live when she's older. For Sydney, completing the living will was not an easy task. Sydney had to confront difficult scenarios and consider how her choices might impact her loved ones. But she knew that clarity was key, especially given the potential for disagreements among her family.
Once the document was complete, Sydney felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She knew that her wishes were now legally documented and that her family would have clear guidance in the event of a medical crisis. Months passed, and Sydney's living will remained tucked away in a safe place.
Then, one day, she was involved in a car accident that left her unconscious in the hospital. As her family gathered in the waiting room, tensions ran high. But when Sydney's designated healthcare proxy presented her living will to the medical staff, a sense of relief washed over everyone. Thanks to Sydney's foresight in writing her living will, her family was spared the anguish of making difficult decisions amidst their already strained relationships.
Instead, they were able to come together to support Sydney and honour her wishes. In the end, Sydney's living will not only provided her with peace of mind but also brought her family closer together, proving that even in the face of tricky dynamics, clarity and communication can prevail.
Imagine John, a retired schoolteacher, lived a quiet life in his modest cottage. One sunny afternoon, while tending to his garden, tragedy struck. A sudden stroke left him nearly fully paralysed and robbed him of his ability to speak. As John lay immobilised in his hospital bed, surrounded by concerned loved ones, he found solace in the living will he had meticulously crafted years earlier. Despite his physical limitations, John's mind remained sharp, allowing him to communicate his wishes through eye movements and gestures.
With the help of his family and healthcare team, John's Advance Decision "living will" became his voice, guiding decisions about his care and treatment. He had made it clear that he did not want to be kept alive artificially if there was no hope for recovery. Instead, he wished for comfort-focused care and dignity in his final days.
Though unable to speak, John was grateful as his loved ones honoured his wishes. They decorated his hospital room with photos and mementos from his life, creating a peaceful and familiar environment. In his final moments, surrounded by those he held dear, John found peace knowing that his Advance Decision "living will" had ensured his wishes were respected. With dignity and grace, he passed away, leaving behind a legacy of love and foresight that would be cherished by all who knew him.
Real words from real people
Don't leave your dignity to guess work
Less than 1 in 3 US adults completes any type of advance directive.
NPR, 2017
Despite 71% of Americans preferring to die at home, 34% do.
The Economist, 2016
70% of people will be unable to communicate at some point before death
ACD Community
An Advance Decision “living will” is a legal document that allows individuals to outline their preferences regarding medical treatment and care in the event that they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity.
The term “living will” is not a legally recognised term as of 2015. That’s why the term "advance decision" or "advance directive” is preferred.
Guidance for others: This scenario, if it occurs, is likely to be stressful for others. Giving guidance for appointed attorney, partners, family members, close friends, or healthcare professionals who may be queried about your preferences.
Reduce conflict: Those close to you may not always agree on how to care for you. Providing these decisions helps them to reduce likelihood of disagreements.
Dignity: Keeping a level of authority over medical treatment or uphold your beliefs or other convictions concerning potential scenarios, such as the necessity of tube feeding, limb amputation, or blood transfusion.
Care objectives: If confronted with a life-limiting illness and engaging in discussions about care objectives and the management of foreseeable challenges accompanying the progression of the illness, this document helps guide the level of care.
Assuming your advance decision "living will" is filled out correctly, the document will only become enforceable by law in the UK after you lose mental capacity or cannot communicate about your medical wishes, and when it's been signed by you and a witness. In the UK, you don't need a lawyer to sign it to be legally valid.
The mental capacity act 2005. According to the act, this document must be made by a person aged 18 or over who has mental capacity and be made voluntarily, without any pressure from others. It must be made by a person who fully understands the implications and consequences of their decision and be specific about the medical treatments or interventions to refuse or accept.
Relevance: The document needs to be specific and applicable to certain scenarios e.g. Dementia, Terminal illnesses, etc. Dignify covers these scenarios in detail.
Signatory: A witness signature is not legally required for the advance decision to be valid, unless you are refusing life-sustaining treatments. A witness signature can provide additional evidence of the individual's capacity and intentions when making the decision and is highly recommended. The witness must be of sound mind and not a beneficiary of your estate e.g. they would receive inheritance if you were to pass away.
We recommend reviewing your local laws and speak with legal and medical professionals before making these decisions.
Yes, there's a hard copy print out available. We always recommend you keep multiple copies safe. Note, each time you edit the copy there is a time stamp on the new. Caregivers can see their latest edition on their app.
Only you. To change legal documentation like your Advance Decision you will need need to revoke old copies and sign new copies with your witnesses, a lawyer, and/or a doctor (depending on your jurisdiction).
If you sign up for Dignify Premium, you can share a personal URL with whoever want. However, you can also set your plan to private, which means nobody except you will have access to the online version.
In the event you become unable to communicate and your plan is set to private, people can request access to your plans; e.g. A new Doctor is sent the link by your carer whilst you are unwell, they can get access after 48 hours without denying them access.
