Advance Directives

In Ohio, "advance directives" is the term used to describe three types of legal documents you can complete to express your wishes regarding your future health care: (1) a durable power of attorney for health care (POA), (2) a declaration for mental health treatment, and (3) a living will. An advance directive can be an important tool for you as a consumer of mental health and other disability services to guide your care should your attending physician determine that you lack capacity to make your own health care choices.

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Advance Directives Topics

• Advance Directives for Mental Health Treatment in Ohio (OLRS publication)
• The What-if? Workbook (PDF file) (This workbook was designed to be used with the "Advance Directives for Mental Health Treatment in Ohio" booklet.)

Advance Directives Sample Forms

• OLRS' Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Form (PDF file)
• State of Ohio Declaration for Mental Health Treatment (PDF file)

Links to Other Resources

The following are links to other resources and organizations that may be of assistance to people with disabilities. The Ohio Legal Rights Service (OLRS) attempts to verify that the links referenced are helpful for people with disabilities to find the resources needed to advocate for their needs. However, OLRS does not guarantee that the information provided within the destination link is accurate or right for the particular needs of the person. Once you follow a link away from the OLRS Web site, refer to that site's privacy policy and disclaimer statements.

• Advance Directive for Mental Health Treatment (Ohio Advocates for Mental Health)
• National Resource Center on Psychiatric Advance Directives
• Ohio's Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney (Ohio Hospice & Palliative Care Organization)
• Power in Planning: Self Determination through Advance Psychiatric Directives (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law)
• Psychiatric Advance Directives (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
• Psychiatric Advance Directives Toolkit(National Mental Health Association)

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• Advance Directives
• Future Planning