All Things Considered -- Five Wishes: Living Wills

October 22, 1998 -- Only 25 percent of all Americans have made some formal statement about how they'd like to be treated at the end of their lives. An organization based in Florida, called "Aging with Dignity", is trying to remedy that situation with a new document that can help families talk over these uncomfortable issues, and serve as a living will.

That group today unveiled the "Five Wishes" living will. For the first time ever, a document has been constructed that's legal in 33 States and spells out a person's wishes in plain english. It also acknowledges that end-of-life decisions involve more than medical issues -- emotional and spiritual values are included.

Making the language simple and clear is a main goal, says Jim Towey, who is President of Aging with Dignity. For more, listen as All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks with Towey.

You can find the document on the Web at: www.agingwithdignity.org