Advance Directive

Introduction

Please… Let us know if you have or need an Advance Directive and/or a Psychiatric Advance Directive!

A Medical Directive is a legal document in that lets you state your wishes about your physical and/or mental health care, should you no longer be able to make informed decisions on your own.

Norfolk Community Services Board is required to ask about the existence of any advance directive. If you indicate that you have an advance directive, the agency is required to include a copy of such directive in your services record.

Emergency Planning

You should be aware that an advance medical directive usually will not be effective in the event of a medical emergency. Emergency medical personnel (such as rescue squads or ambulance teams) cannot follow an advance directive when they are called to help in an emergency. Hospital emergency department personnel also may not know of an advance directive in an emergency.

Help & Information

Help and information concerning advance medical directives are available from several sources including your local hospitals, your primary care physician, or your personal attorney. An attorney is helpful, but you do not have to have an attorney to prepare an advance directive.

Please note that you can get more information about advance directives (including forms or links to other sites), by contacting your Care Coordinator, the Office of Consumer Relations, or by going to the website. You may also get help in choosing and completing an advance directive from your Care Coordinator. This assistance is free, as well as confidential.

Contact Us

757-823-1692
Office of Consumer Relations