Virginia Advance Directives
If your friend or loved one is completing an Advance Directive, he/she may look to you for support or assistance. The degree to which you are involved in advance care planning discussions or the AD itself is at the discretion of the person making it.
As an agent
Your loved one may choose a close friend or family member to act as his/her agent in a time of crisis. If you are chosen to be your loved one’s agent, then it is important that you learn about the expectations that come with that role. You ought to have conversations with your loved one about his/her values and preferences.
Support during the process
Writing an Advance Directive can involve many decisions and take time. Individuals making an AD may have hard decisions to make. They may also be thinking through unpleasant crisis scenarios that may arise. Even if you are not going to be the person’s agent, you can still help your family member or loved one by talking with them about his/her health care history and needs and providing support.
Making the AD accessible during a crisis
An Advance Directive is most helpful during a crisis if it can be easily accessed. If your loved one has given you a copy of his/her AD, one of the biggest ways that you can help is by providing it to the attending physician. If your family member or friend has registered his/her AD with one of the online registries, then a way you can help during a crisis situation is by providing the information that is necessary to obtain the AD from the website.
This website is not intended to provide legal advice. It is merely a guide, and reflects one view of Advance Directives in Virginia. It can be beneficial to consult with an attorney regarding your Advance Directive. However, the intention of Virginia’s law on Advance Directives is to enable and encourage all capable adults to fill out an Advance Directive on their own.
This website is designed and administered by Mental Health America of Virginia (MHAV) and is funded through a grant by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
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