Maintaining a family and personal history can be helpful to your health-care providers as they work with you in providing your care. Your family history may help determine diseases for which you are at risk and should receive early screening. A personal history may be useful when you change physicians, travel or track health-related progress.
Advance directives help document your wishes today so your family won't have to make difficult decisions in the future.
Aging with Dignity - Five Wishes
www.agingwithdignity.org/5wishes.html
Form to help express how you would like to be treated if you are seriously ill and cannot speak for yourself. Covers medical, personal, emotional and spiritual needs. Forms must be purchased through this Web site.
Family History Initiative from the U.S. Surgeon General
www.hhs.gov/familyhistory
Resources for developing a family health portrait either online or on paper.
Maryland Office of the Attorney General-Advance Directives
www.oag.state.md.us/Healthpol/AdvanceDirectives.htm
Advanced directives form and information from Maryland Attorney General's office.
My Personal Health Record
www.myphr.com
Information and resources for developing your own personal health history.
Put It In Writing–Advance Directives
www.putitinwriting.org
Information and basic facts about advance directives with links to resources and forms. From the American Hospital Association.
