Have you and your loved ones had “the talk”? The one about what kind of medical care you’d want if you couldn’t speak for yourself? It’s a conversation many of us avoid, yet it’s one of the most profound gifts of clarity and compassion we can offer.
Traditional living wills are essential, but they often focus narrowly on life-support decisions, leaving deeper human needs unaddressed. What if there was a document that went beyond the machines and medications to capture your personal wishes for comfort, dignity, and how you want to be treated?
Five Wishes is precisely that: a legally valid living will that transforms cold, clinical decisions into a heartfelt guide for your care. It addresses not just what you want, but who you are, ensuring your voice is heard in every aspect of your care when you need it most.
Knowing Someone’s End-of-Life Wishes is Important
End-of-life planning can be a sensitive topic to raise with your older adult, but many seniors feel relieved after sharing their wishes.
Working with an older adult to complete a living will or advance directive helps you understand and legally document their end-of-life care wishes.
Plus, doing this before a health emergency prevents you from having to make those hard choices without their input during a crisis.
To make this complex topic easier to handle, we found an extraordinary, easy-to-use, low-cost living will form called Five Wishes.
It focuses on personal values and how your older adult wants to be treated at the end of life.
We explain what the Five Wishes living will is, why it’s so easy to use, how much it costs, and which states accept it.
The Five Wishes Living Will is a Simple Way to Document End-of-Life Wishes (Legally)
Five Wishes is a widely used living will form in the United States, embraced by families, community groups, faith communities, and medical and legal providers.
It’s inexpensive, written in plain everyday language, and covers personal, spiritual, medical, and legal wishes all in one document.
Having this document makes it easy for people to express their end-of-life care wishes, so family members or caregivers know exactly what they want and don’t have to guess.
Plus, it’s legally valid in nearly every state and available in 30 languages.
Five Wishes is especially helpful for families because it focuses on the fundamentals that matter most, like values and personal goals, rather than on specific treatments or medical procedures.
See a sample Five Wishes document here.
Note: Although Five Wishes is an excellent form, it’s only one type of living will. If you’re not sure if this form is right for your older adult’s situation, check with an elder law attorney.
The Five Wishes Living Will is a Legal Document That is Easy to Understand
Five Wishes isn’t another confusing legal document.
It uses clearly worded questions and plainly stated choices to help people express their care preferences.
Each section includes shared end-of-life preferences, which can be used as-is or changed to suit your older adult’s wishes. There’s also room for anything they’d like to add.
If you’d like help starting the conversation or completing the Five Wishes form, The Conversation Project offers free guides to help you begin end-of-life conversations.
The Five Wishes Living Will Costs $5 and is Accepted in Most U.S. States
The Five Wishes Living Will paper form costs $5 and meets the state’s legal requirements in most U.S. states and the District of Columbia.
For four states (New Hampshire, Kansas, Ohio, or Texas), the Five Wishes advance directive can still be used, but you may need to take an extra step. Find out more here.
Final Thoughts on the Five Wishes Living Will
Completing your Five Wishes is far more than checking a legal box; it is an act of deep love and consideration for yourself and those who will care for you. It transforms anxiety about the unknown into peace of mind, replacing fear with a clear, compassionate plan.
This document ensures your values guide your care, sparing your family the anguish of trying to guess your wishes during a crisis. By having these heartfelt conversations now, you grant everyone involved the priceless gifts of clarity, respect, and unity.
Don’t wait for a crisis to make your voice heard. Fill out your Five Wishes today – it’s one of the most meaningful ways to protect your dignity and provide enduring comfort to those you love.
Next Steps: Find out more about the Five Wishes living will
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About the Author
Connie is the founder of DailyCaring.com and was a hands-on caregiver for her grandmother for 20 years. (Grandma made it to 101 years old!) She knows how challenging, overwhelming, and all-consuming caring for an older adult can be. She also understands the importance of support, especially in the form of practical solutions, valuable resources, and self-care tips.
