Frequently Asked Questions

An advance health care directive is a written set of instructions expressing your wishes for medical treatment. It may contain a health care power of attorney, where you name a person called a “health care agent” to decide treatment for you, and a living will, where you tell your health care agent and health care providers your choices regarding the initiation, continuation, withholding, or withdrawal of life sustaining treatment and other specific instructions. You may limit your health care agent’s involvement in deciding your medical treatment so that your health care agent will speak for you only when you are unable to speak for yourself or you may give your health care agent the power to speak for you immediately.

As most people prefer to stay in their homes and live independently for as long as they can, federal, state, and local government agencies have collaborated to develop several programs that may provide for extended services and supports to be provided in home and community-based settings. Whether or not you are eligible for these programs will depend on your age, income and resources; your need for assistance; and the availability of funds. Contact our agency for more information about these programs.