About this resource
Five Wishes, from the nonprofit Aging with Dignity, is the most widely used advance care planning resource in the United States — an advance directive written in everyday language that lets people document how they want to be cared for if they become seriously ill and cannot speak for themselves. Unlike many legal forms, it goes beyond medical instructions to address the personal and emotional dimensions of serious illness, making it approachable for families who find traditional paperwork intimidating.
The document walks a person through five wishes: (1) the person they want to make care decisions on their behalf, (2) the kind of medical treatment they want or do not want, (3) how comfortable they want to be, (4) how they want to be treated by others, and (5) what they want their loved ones to know. Together these turn a daunting topic into a guided, meaningful conversation.
For caregivers, Five Wishes is a powerful tool for honoring a loved one’s preferences and reducing the stress of guessing during a crisis. It is legally valid in nearly all fifty states, costs about $5 per copy, and is available in 32 languages plus Braille through the online store at store.fivewishes.org. Aging with Dignity also provides free copies to those in need through its charitable program. Completing Five Wishes early — and sharing it with family and physicians — helps ensure that a person’s values guide their care all the way through the end of life.
What you'll get from this resource
- Five Wishes is a plain-language advance directive that covers medical, personal, and emotional end-of-life preferences.
- It guides users through five areas: a healthcare decision-maker, treatment wishes, comfort, how they want to be treated, and a legacy message.
- It is legally valid in nearly all 50 states, costs about $5, and is available in 32 languages plus Braille.
- Aging with Dignity offers free copies to those in need and recommends sharing the completed document with family and physicians.
Frequently asked questions
They are: who you want to make decisions for you, the medical treatment you do or don’t want, how comfortable you want to be, how you want to be treated, and what you want loved ones to know.
Yes. Five Wishes meets the legal requirements for an advance directive in nearly all fifty states.
It costs about $5 per copy through store.fivewishes.org, is available in 32 languages plus Braille, and free copies are provided to those in need through Aging with Dignity’s charitable program.
It captures a loved one’s wishes in their own words, easing the burden of difficult decisions and helping ensure their values guide their care.
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