Free printable guide
Care Preferences Conversation: Printable Guide
Gentle prompts for listening to what matters to an older adult before formal medical or legal planning begins.
Open printable PDFWhy this matters
Conversations about future care are easier when they begin with values and listening rather than forms. A few short talks can be more useful than one hard meeting.
Knowing what matters to someone helps the family make decisions with confidence if the person ever cannot speak for themselves.
Inside the printable
What this guide helps you do
- Choosing a calm moment and asking permission
- Asking questions about values before treatments
- Recording the person’s own words
- Learning what a living will and a health care proxy do
- Sharing wishes with the right people
- Revisiting the conversation at least once a year
Official contacts in this guide
Free public and nonprofit services. No affiliate links. Numbers checked September 2026; confirm hours on each official website.
- National Institute on Aging Free advance care planning worksheets and guides
- Eldercare Locator Connects you to your local Area Agency on Aging. 1-800-677-1116 (call or text)