Talk to Your Loved Ones Today About What Matters Most
The hardest healthcare decisions are the ones made by families who were never told what their loved one wanted. At Treasure Coast Hospice, we want to make sure your wishes are known, understood, and honored — with compassion and respect.
That starts with a conversation. And the best time to have it is before you need it.
Four Questions to Ask Yourself
Before a medical crisis happens, take a few quiet minutes with these:
1. Who would make your healthcare decisions if you couldn't? Is that person willing? Do they know they've been chosen? Do they know what you'd want?
2. What medical care would you want — or not want — if you faced a serious illness? Think about treatments you'd accept, treatments you'd decline, and the point at which your priorities might shift from cure to comfort.
3. What kind of pain control do you want, and when should it be given? Some people want to stay as alert as possible. Others prioritize being free of pain. There's no wrong answer — only your answer.
4. What comfort measures matter most to you at the end of life? Music. Familiar faces. Being at home. A hand to hold. Prayer. These details are often what families remember most, and they're rarely written down anywhere.
Advance care planning can be an emotional subject. That's exactly why it belongs in an ordinary afternoon at the kitchen table — not in a hospital hallway at 2 a.m.
What Is an Advance Directive?
An advance directive is a written statement describing your wishes, preferences, and choices regarding end-of-life healthcare.
It does two things at once. It helps you think through decisions you may never have put into words. And it makes those decisions accessible to your loved ones, caregivers, and medical providers if you're ever unable to speak for yourself.
An advance directive isn't permanent. You can update or replace it at any time as your health, your circumstances, or your thinking changes.
Consider Using Five Wishes®
Five Wishes® is an easy-to-use legal document template written in plain language — no legal training required. It walks you through how you want to be cared for if you become seriously ill, covering personal, spiritual, medical, and legal matters.
It meets the legal requirements for an advance directive in 46 states and the District of Columbia, including Florida.
Request a PDF download of Five Wishes®
Want to Learn More?
We offer free presentations on advance care planning for community groups, faith communities, workplaces, and organizations across the Treasure Coast.
Schedule a presentation
Or contact our team to start a conversation.
One More Step That Matters
Once your advance directive is complete, make sure the people who need it actually have it. Give copies to your healthcare surrogate, your primary care physician, and a family member. A document no one can find is a document that can't help you.