An advance directive is a legal document that lets others know how you want to be cared for if you become too sick to tell them. If you don’t already have one, you should make one now, while you are healthy enough to make your own health care decisions.

In New Jersey, there are three kinds of advance directives:

• A proxy directive names the person you want to make your health care decisions for you when you no longer can. This person must be at least 18 years old.

• An instruction directive gives your wishes and instructions for your own care.

• A combined directive names a person and gives instructions for your care. It is a combination of a proxy directive and instruction directive.

Before you make an advance directive, you should talk to your doctor about your care options.
For more information and forms, you can visit state.nj.us/health/advancedirective.