Real Examples of Understanding Living Wills: 3 Practical Scenarios You Can Learn From

Before we talk about forms, laws, or legal language, it helps to see real people making real choices. These examples of understanding living wills: 3 practical examples show how different values lead to different decisions — and how a simple document can keep things from spiraling into family drama.

Think of these as “templates for thinking,” not scripts you must follow.

Example 1: The Young, Healthy Adult Who Still Plans Ahead

Jasmine is 28, a software engineer who hikes on weekends and has no major health issues. She only heard about living wills when a friend was injured in a car accident and spent weeks in the ICU.

Jasmine sat down one evening and asked herself two questions:

• If I’m badly injured and doctors aren’t sure I’ll recover, how aggressive do I want treatment to be?
• Who do I trust to speak for me if I can’t?

In her living will, Jasmine:

• Says she wants full treatment (ventilator, feeding tube, surgeries) if there’s a reasonable chance of recovery.
• States that if doctors believe she will never wake up or recognize loved ones, she does not want to be kept alive on machines long‑term.
• Allows a time-limited trial of life support (for example, 2–4 weeks) to see if she improves.
• Names her older sister as her health care proxy to interpret her wishes.

This example of a living will shows that you don’t have to be sick or elderly to make clear, thoughtful choices. Jasmine’s document is short, but it gives her family and doctors a roadmap if something unexpected happens.

Example 2: The Middle-Aged Parent Focused on Avoiding Long-Term Suffering

Carlos is 52, a divorced father of two teenagers. His dad spent years in a nursing home with advanced dementia, unable to recognize anyone. Carlos doesn’t want that for himself or his kids.

In his living will, Carlos:

• Says he wants CPR and intensive care if there’s a solid chance he can return to independent living.
• States that if he has severe brain damage or advanced dementia and can’t feed himself, walk, or interact in a meaningful way, he does not want a feeding tube or repeated hospitalizations.
• Declines ventilators, dialysis, or major surgery if his doctors agree he is unlikely to recover the ability to communicate or enjoy daily life.
• Prioritizes comfort care: pain control, anxiety relief, and being allowed to stay at home or in hospice if possible.

This is one of the best examples of understanding living wills: 3 practical examples in action, because it shows how someone can balance “fight hard if there’s hope” with “let me go if there isn’t.” It also reflects a very common fear: being kept alive in a state you would never choose.

Example 3: The Older Adult With a Serious Diagnosis

Marian is 72 and has early-stage heart failure and Type 2 diabetes. She’s active, still gardening and babysitting her grandkids, but she’s realistic about the future.

Marian meets with her doctor and her daughter to discuss a living will. Together, they walk through situations that might come up:

• If her heart failure worsens and she’s in and out of the hospital, she wants to focus on comfort, not more invasive procedures.
• She refuses CPR and mechanical ventilation if her heart or breathing stop, because she knows the odds of recovering well at her age and condition are low.
• She is okay with a short hospital stay for treatable problems (like pneumonia) as long as the goal is to get her back home.
• She clearly states she wants hospice care when doctors believe she is near the end of life.

Marian’s story is a powerful example of understanding living wills: 3 practical examples because it shows how someone can use a living will to shift from “do everything” to “do what keeps me comfortable and at home when possible.”

More Real Examples: How Different Values Shape a Living Will

The three practical scenarios above are a helpful starting point, but real life is messy. Here are more real examples of how people customize their living wills based on their beliefs, fears, and priorities.

Faith-Based Example: Treatment Choices Guided by Religion

Samir is 60 and devoutly religious. His faith teaches that life is sacred, but also that extraordinary measures can be refused when they only prolong suffering.

In his living will, Samir:

• States that he wants ordinary care (food, water, basic medical treatment) as long as his body can handle it.
• Allows short-term use of a ventilator or feeding tube only if recovery is likely.
• Declines long‑term life support if doctors agree he is in a persistent vegetative state with no realistic chance of regaining awareness.
• Requests that his religious leader be consulted if there is uncertainty about what his faith would say.

This example of a values-driven living will shows how you can blend medical choices with religious or cultural beliefs.

Example Focused on Independence and Quality of Life

Nina is 45 and fiercely independent. After watching a friend live for years with severe disability after a stroke, she knows her own limits.

In her living will, Nina:

• Says that quality of life matters more than length of life.
• Would accept aggressive treatment if she is likely to return to living at home, making her own decisions, and doing at least some of the activities she loves.
• Declines long‑term ventilator use, feeding tubes, or repeated major surgeries if she is unlikely to walk, speak clearly, or make her own choices.
• Emphasizes that her goal is to avoid being kept alive in a state she would find intolerable.

Examples like Nina’s highlight why no two living wills should be identical. The same medical situation can lead to different decisions depending on what someone values most.

Example Centered on Family Burden and Finances

Robert is 63, a widower raising a granddaughter. Money is tight, and he worries about being a financial and emotional burden.

His living will:

• Allows short-term intensive care if doctors believe he can return to caring for himself.
• Refuses long‑term life support or repeated hospitalizations if he has a terminal illness and is unlikely to recover meaningful function.
• States that he does not want his family to feel pressured into “doing everything” if it will only extend dying, not living.
• Encourages his granddaughter to follow the doctors’ advice and his written wishes, not guilt.

This is one of the more practical examples of understanding living wills because it shows that emotional and financial realities often shape people’s choices.

Example Involving Dementia and Future Planning

Elaine is 70 and has a strong family history of Alzheimer’s disease. She’s currently sharp and active, but she’s planning ahead.

Elaine’s living will:

• States that if she develops moderate to severe dementia and cannot recognize family, manage basic self-care, or communicate consistently, she does not want aggressive treatment for new serious illnesses.
• In that stage, she declines CPR, ventilators, feeding tubes, and major surgery.
• She still wants comfort care, treatment for pain, and help with anxiety or agitation.

This example of a living will shows how someone can give guidance about future cognitive decline long before it happens.

How These Examples Help You Write Your Own Living Will

Looking at these examples of understanding living wills: 3 practical examples and several additional scenarios, some patterns start to emerge. Most people are really answering three big questions:

• Under what conditions do I want doctors to do everything to keep me alive?
• Under what conditions do I want them to focus on comfort instead of prolonging life at all costs?
• Who do I trust to speak for me and interpret my wishes when things aren’t black‑and‑white?

You don’t need legal training to answer these. You do need a bit of honesty about what matters to you.

A simple way to start is to imagine three situations:

• A short-term crisis where there’s a good chance you’ll recover.
• A serious illness where treatment might help, but you may not get back to your old self.
• An end-of-life scenario where doctors agree you’re unlikely to recover in a meaningful way.

Then, for each situation, think about what treatments you would accept or refuse. The real examples above can act as prompts to clarify your own answers.

Practical Tips: Turning Examples Into an Actual Living Will

Seeing examples is helpful, but at some point you need to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). Here’s a straightforward way to move from ideas to a real document.

1. Use a Legally Valid Form for Your State or Country

In the United States, living wills and advance directives are typically governed by state law. Many states provide free forms online through government or health system websites. A few helpful starting points:

• The U.S. National Institute on Aging explains advance care planning and links to resources: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning
• The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offers state-specific advance directive forms: https://www.nhpco.org/patients-and-caregivers/advance-care-planning/
• Mayo Clinic has a clear overview of living wills and health care proxies: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/living-wills/art-20046303

If you’re outside the U.S., check your country’s health ministry or a major hospital system for local guidance.

2. Write in Plain, Human Language

Legal forms often have checkboxes for specific treatments, but the most helpful part of a living will is usually the free-text section where you explain your values.

You might write things like:

• “If I am unlikely to wake up or recognize my family, I do not want to be kept alive on machines long-term.”
• “If I have a reasonable chance to recover and live independently, I want aggressive treatment, even if it’s hard in the short term.”
• “I want my doctors and my health care proxy to prioritize comfort and being at home over living a little longer in the hospital.”

These kinds of statements give context that checkboxes alone can’t capture. They also help your proxy and doctors interpret your wishes in gray areas.

3. Talk It Through With Your Proxy and Your Doctor

Every example of a well-used living will has one thing in common: conversation. A document no one has read is just paper.

Once you’ve drafted your living will:

• Share it with the person you’re naming as your health care proxy.
• Ask your doctor to review it with you and explain any medical terms or likely scenarios.
• Make sure copies are in your medical record and accessible to family.

According to recent trends in advance care planning, more health systems now encourage people to upload their living wills directly into electronic medical records so they’re easy to find in an emergency. This is becoming increasingly common in 2024–2025, especially in larger hospital networks.

2024–2025 Trends: Why Living Wills Matter More Than Ever

Several recent trends make these examples of understanding living wills especially timely:

• People are living longer with chronic illness. Conditions like heart failure, COPD, and dementia can last for years. A living will helps guide decisions during repeated hospitalizations.
• ICU and life-support technology keep improving. Doctors can keep people alive longer than ever, but that doesn’t always mean a return to the kind of life someone would want.
• Telehealth and digital records make it easier to create, store, and share living wills, including with family who live far away.
• Younger adults are planning earlier. After the COVID‑19 pandemic, more people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s started completing advance directives, often inspired by stories like Jasmine’s.

Authoritative sources like the National Institute on Aging and Mayo Clinic continue to recommend advance care planning as a way to reduce stress for families and align care with a person’s values.

FAQ: Common Questions About Living Wills and Real Examples

What is a simple example of a living will statement?

A simple example of a living will statement might be: “If I am in a permanent unconscious state and doctors agree I will not recover awareness, I do not want to be kept alive on machines. I want comfort care only.” This kind of plain-language statement, combined with a state-approved form, can give powerful guidance.

Do I need a lawyer to create a living will?

In most U.S. states, you do not need a lawyer to create a valid living will. You usually need to:

• Use a form that meets your state’s requirements.
• Sign it when you are mentally capable.
• Have it witnessed and/or notarized, depending on local law.

That said, if you have a complex medical situation or want to coordinate your living will with a broader estate plan, talking with an attorney can help.

Are living wills and health care proxies the same thing?

Not quite. A living will expresses your wishes about medical treatment in specific situations. A health care proxy (also called a medical power of attorney or health care agent) names the person who can speak for you when you can’t. Many of the best examples of real-world planning combine both: clear written wishes plus a trusted person to interpret them.

Can I change my living will if I change my mind?

Yes. You can change or cancel your living will at any time as long as you still have decision-making capacity. Many people update their documents after a new diagnosis, a major life event, or simply after thinking more deeply about examples like the ones in this article.

Where should I keep my living will?

Keep it somewhere easy to find, not locked away:

• Give copies to your health care proxy and close family.
• Ask your doctor or hospital to put it in your medical record.
• Keep a copy with other important papers at home.

Some states and health systems also offer electronic registries or portals where you can upload your documents.

When you look at these examples of understanding living wills: 3 practical examples plus several additional scenarios, a pattern appears: there is no single “right” answer. The right living will is the one that reflects your values, written clearly enough that the people who love you aren’t left guessing in the hardest moments.