Five Wishes is an advance care planning program trusted by more than 40 million people, created by Aging with Dignity to help people talk to their loved ones today about what matters most. Founded in 1996 by Jim Towey—who worked as Mother Teresa’s legal counsel and witnessed firsthand what was important to people before death—Aging with Dignity developed Five Wishes in 1998 as the first advance care plan to address personal, emotional, and spiritual wishes in addition to medical treatment. Called the “living will with heart and soul,” Five Wishes helps people define a roadmap for how they want to be cared for through meaningful, compassionate conversations with family. Developed in consultation with the American Bar Association and end-of-life experts with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Five Wishes has been embraced by families, community groups, faith communities, medical and legal providers, and businesses through the Five Wishes at Work program.
Why It Matters: Traditional advance directives focus on medical treatment while leaving unaddressed the personal, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of how people actually want to be cared for. By offering a comprehensive, person-centered approach known for simplicity and clarity, Five Wishes makes it possible for anyone to talk with loved ones today about what matters most, ensuring that, however a person arrives at the end of life, their wishes are known, and families are prepared and supported. The program transforms advanced care planning from a legal document into an invitation for meaningful family conversations that honor human dignity.
