It’s never easy to discuss what happens if you or a loved one should become seriously ill. It’s only human nature that we would prefer not to discuss our own possible death or the potential loss of a loved one. But as you’ve likely experienced from those who have previously died, while death is never easy, trying to navigate the medical choices and technology that may confront us at the end of life is a situation fraught with emotion and complexity, all the more so when you or a loved one has never previously considered the issues. So, rather than make a bad situation worse, efforts have been afoot for decades to encourage everyone to consider advance care planning: that is, discussing with your family and loved ones- while you are healthy and capable- what’s important to you and what treatments you may or may not want as your life comes to an end. And this coming Sunday is as good a time as any to initiate this sort of conversation, as April 16 is the annual National Healthcare Decisions Day.

There’s no shortage of information, guidance, discussion prompts, and detailed instructions on what to consider and how to have these sorts of advance care planning conversations. For a few examples, take a look at a post by agebuzz Contributor Editor Julie Buyon, this guide from the National Institute on Aging, or the array of topics addressed on The Conversation’s website, along with a host of resources we list on agebuzz. And as we’ve previously posted, there are also an array of new websites designed to help you plan your treatment choices in advance, legally document your wishes for your loved ones, organize other end-of-life rituals, and even leave written or video messages to be made available after your death. To add to this list of resources, check out a recent post on 5 Death Planning Apps for End-of-Life Wishes and Posthumous Messages along with Eldr, where you match with an informed and experienced guide to specifically help you address and execute whatever conversations and documents are needed as death approaches. We also want to remind you of the valuable discussion tool and document entitled Five Wishes.

It’s also important to ensure you are up-to-date and aware of a few other aspects of advance care planning that may not always make it into the headlines. First, when appointing someone to be your health care agent or health care power of attorney, it’s critical that the person you appoint is someone you can trust, is willing to assume the responsibility of making decisions for you should that be necessary, is capable and courageous enough to make difficult and even life-ending choices and perhaps most importantly, knows what and how you would have made the decision if you could have. A recent post by Carolyn Rosenblatt in Forbes reminds us that surrogate decision-makers need to be informed and strong when making decisions on your behalf, and a recent personal post from agebuzz guest blogger Kathleen Rehl, writing in Next Avenue, reminds us that moments may arise when all that stands between a patient and a poor end-of-life decision is a strong and vocal health care agent.

You should also understand that if by chance you were not able to appoint a friend or family member to be your healthcare agent, most states now have in place surrogate decision-making laws that allow loved ones to step in and make legally binding decisions about your care, even without a previously executed appointment. To find out what happens in your state if no healthcare agent is appointed, begin looking for information here. However, a reminder: if your family members would not be willing or able to help make decisions on your behalf, or you believe they would not make decisions in accord with your values, it’s best to appoint someone else whom you trust and can rely upon should you need a surrogate decision maker, rather than rely on the state to appoint the most appropriate person for you.

Finally, there is one other type of “advance directive” that is often left undiscussed. That is the POLST or MOLST order (different states use different names but stand for Physician or Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) which is a medical order, signed by your physician, that clearly articulates treatments you would or would not be willing to receive should you be unable to speak for yourself. This is an official medical order and it should have authority wherever you are: at home in the community, in a long-term care facility, or in some other setting. It is usually brightly colored and for those who live at home, often taped to the refrigerator where an EMS technician would notice it and be able to respect it. Just as with other advance directives, a POLST order should result from conversations you have in advance of need, this time with your physician rather than with loved ones (though you can also invite loved ones to participate in a POLST discussion). It’s not a document that everyone needs; rather it’s one more valuable tool for those with a serious or life-threatening illness who may have important medical treatment decisions in the near future. To find out more, click here.