Advance Directives & Health Care Proxies
Planning Ahead for Your Care
Advance Directives are legal documents that help guide your healthcare if you are unable to communicate your wishes at the time. You can plan for future needs by establishing a Health Care Proxy, documenting your preferences for life-sustaining treatment, and indicating your wishes regarding organ donation.
The Case Management Department at Sturdy Memorial Hospital is composed of nurses and social workers who collaborate with other healthcare providers to help ensure services are timely, available, and best meet each patient’s needs.
Staff assist patients and families in exploring options for rehabilitation and long-term placement. Case Management also serves as a resource for the community, providing information about support groups, healthcare proxies, and other health-related services.
We respect the rights of all patients to make decisions about their healthcare. If, because of illness or injury, a person is unable to express his or her treatment preferences, an advance medical directive can ensure those wishes are followed. Sturdy Health partners with Honoring Choices Massachusetts to offer Health Care Proxies that are legally recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A Health Care Proxy allows you to designate someone to make decisions about your healthcare if you are unable to make them yourself. You will be offered the opportunity to prepare a Health Care Proxy if you are admitted to the hospital, but we strongly encourage you to download and complete a Health Care Proxy before you need to be in a hospital.
About Honoring Choices
MOLST is a standardized medical order form for use by clinicians caring for patients with serious advancing illnesses. This form needs to be completed in conjunction with a medical provider.
Every day, thousands of people await the gift of life made possible through organ donation. If you would like more information about becoming an organ donor, call the New England Donor Bank at (617) 244-8000 or, our staff can call on your behalf. Once you have made the decision to become an organ donor, we urge you to discuss your intent with your family, in addition to signing an organ donor card.
Sturdy Health is proud to partner with Honoring Choices Massachusetts to provide this important information and help patients plan for their future healthcare wishes.
Starting at age 18, you can choose a trusted person to be your “Health Care Agent.”
If you get sick and cannot make care decisions yourself, even for a short time while you get better, your “Health Care Agent” has the power to talk with your doctors and make decisions to get you the care you want. You appoint your “Health Care Agent” in a Health Care Proxy document.
Visit Honoring Choices Website
- 1. Choose a person you trust, like a family member, a friend, or anyone you like to be your "Health Care Agent."
- 2. Print a free Health Care Proxy document (download below). Write in the name of your "Health Care Agent" and complete the form. Also, make your own “I Have a Health Care Proxy” Wallet Card!
- 3. Give a copy of your Health Care Proxy to your doctors and care providers. They can call your "Health Care Agent" in an emergency.
For an overview of the process and tips for creating your health care proxy and personal directive, check out this recording of the June 2025 webinar.
Resources to Help You Get Started
Download, print, and complete the free Health Care Proxy forms below. Once completed, provide copies to your doctors and other care providers.
Important: The Health Care Proxy must be completed in English to serve as an official document. Translated versions are provided for guidance, with the official English version included at the end of each document.
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No Agent? That’s OK. You can write down what you want for care in a Personal Directive (Living Will), and share with your doctors.
You can download, print, and share one-page information sheets to share the information available on this webpage.