End-of-life care decisions are not easy. They get even harder when you have to make decisions for a loved one who did not express his or her wishes in advance. Some people become too sick to tell family members how much treatment they want, while others leave no instructions for caregivers. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to make sure your family or caregiver isn’t faced with the emotional decisions about end-of-life care without your input.

Advance directives are legal documents that outline the kind of end-of-life care you desire in case you can’t make those decisions on your own or can’t communicate them. They are a way to express your wishes to family, friends and health care professionals and to avoid confusion later on. Any adult can have an advance directive, whether they are 18 or 80.

The come in two main forms. The first one establishes a health care power of attorney, someone you designate to make health care decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself. It allows that person to make any health care-related decisions when the patient can no longer do so.

The other type of advance directive is a living will. A living will allows you to outline the kind of medical treatments you do and do not wish to have if you are too sick or injured to communicate those wishes yourself. For example, many people include instructions about dialysis and breathing machines, tube feeding, heart resuscitation and organ donation.

You can always revoke or change an advance directive if you change your mind about the care you wish to receive, but they are a great way to ensure that your end-of-life care decisions are carried out.