How can you help your family if you have a serious illness? One way is to prepare. You can prepare for health care problems the same way you prepare to enter college, marry, start a family, go on vacation, or retire:  plan ahead. The first step is to consider an advance directive. This is a means of pre-planning your health care before there’s a need. An advance directive gives you a chance to tell your family and your doctor how you’d like to be cared for, even if you can’t speak.

 

Be proactive. Plan for your health care needs before they arise.