What are Advance Directives designed to do?

Advance Directives are legal documents that specifically articulate an individual’s preferences regarding medical treatment and care options in the event that they become unable to communicate their wishes due to illness or incapacity. This includes decisions about life-sustaining treatment, resuscitation efforts, and other critical medical interventions. By detailing residents' preferences for care, Advance Directives ensure that healthcare providers respect the wishes of the individual, allowing for patient autonomy even when the person is not in a position to express those wishes.

The other options do not accurately reflect the purpose of Advance Directives. They do not involve hiring healthcare staff, serve as documentation for medical insurance, or outline emergency response procedures, which are all unrelated to the primary function of Advance Directives in guiding patient care preferences.