Sharing your wishes
about future care
If illness or dementia someday makes it difficult to speak for yourself, who would you want to help make healthcare decisions? What would you want that person to know?
Thinking about these questions now—and discussing them with loved ones—can help others understand what matters to you. People have different beliefs and preferences about care. The purpose of planning is to express your own.
Start with Texas resources
Texas provides advance-directive resources, including a Directive to Physicians and a Medical Power of Attorney. These can help you document treatment preferences and name someone to make healthcare decisions when you cannot.
Texas HHS: general advance-directive information and forms →Texas DSHS: why early planning matters for people with Alzheimer’s →The DSHS page discusses early planning for people with Alzheimer’s disease. The Texas forms linked above are general advance-directive forms; they are not a dementia-specific addendum like the optional sample below.
A few questions to start the conversation
- Who understands my values and would be willing to speak for me?
- What matters most to me about comfort, care, and daily life?
- What would I like to ask my doctor about care during advanced dementia?
- Do my current documents reflect my wishes, and do the right people have copies?
An optional dementia discussion resource
A member shared a Dementia Provision (Advance Directive Addendum) published by Compassion & Choices. It raises questions about care during advanced dementia, including life-prolonging treatments, antibiotics, assistance with eating and drinking—including spoon-feeding—and comfort care.
These are significant personal decisions. You may agree with some, all, or none of the preferences expressed in this sample.
This is not an official Texas form, and Gogoots has not verified that its provisions would be enforceable in Texas. Do not assume it is ready to sign or attach to your existing documents. Discuss any proposed instructions with your physician and a Texas attorney familiar with advance-care planning.
For discussion with your doctor and Texas attorney. Three-page sample marked “For Discussion Purposes Only”; opens in this tab.