Five Wishes is an advance planning document that contains a Living Will. But, how does it differ from a regular Living Will? Which is better?
Advance Care Planning Coaching
Feeling overwhelmed by Advance Care Planning?
You're not alone. Navigating end-of-life decisions can feel confusing, emotional, and easy to postpone. But what if this process could be clarifying, empowering, and even healing?
Advance Care Planning isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about claiming your voice, your values, and your wishes. It’s a chance to align your inner truth with the care you want, while also easing uncertainty for your loved ones.
Whether you’re facing a new diagnosis, supporting someone through illness, or simply planning ahead, this work can bring relief, connection, and peace of mind.
Angelica offers heart-centered guidance using the Five Wishes framework, a simple, legally-recognized document in many states (including Arizona) that doesn’t require a lawyer or physician. Together, we’ll walk through your preferences—medical, emotional, and spiritual—and create clear documentation that reflects you.
Need help updating existing documents?
Looking for clarity around Power of Attorney, Living Wills, or POLST forms?
We’re here to support you at any stage.
$50 / hour
Sessions available via phone, Zoom, email, or in-person (for those in the East Valley: Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Tempe, and Mesa).
🌿 Take this step for yourself. For your family. For peace of mind.
Submit your request using the form below—we’ll walk this path together.
Advance Care Planning Workshops
Planning for the end of life is a sensitive topic that many people avoid. However, such conversations are critical, which is why we offer compassionate end-of-life planning services to guide individuals and families through the process. Select from these 2 workshops:
Your Top Advance Care Planning Questions — Answered!
In this powerful, informative workshop, we dive deep into the most common — and most important — questions about Living Wills, Healthcare Proxies, Powers of Attorney, and how to correctly document your care wishes under Arizona law.
We’ll also bust common myths and clear up confusing misconceptions that could otherwise lead you — or your loved ones — down a challenging path.
Workshop length: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
What We'll Cover:
✨ What makes your Living Will, Five Wishes, or other documents legally binding in Arizona?
✨ Choosing your Healthcare Proxy or Power of Attorney:
How to select the right person — and how to set clear limits on their authority.
✨ Untangling the Forms:
Living Will, Healthcare Proxy, Powers of Attorney (medical, financial, mental health), POLST, DNR — When do these forms take effect, and what happens if they conflict?
✨ Alzheimer’s or Dementia Considerations:
Can someone diagnosed still complete a Living Will?
✨ Powers and Limits:
Can your Healthcare Proxy move you, sell your home, or apply for services on your behalf?
✨ Do you really need a lawyer?
Learn when professional help is necessary — and when it's not.
✨ Family Disagreements:
What happens if family members disagree with your wishes — and can your Proxy override your Living Will?
✨ Living with a Terminal Illness:
How to approach advance care planning differently when facing a serious diagnosis — and how often to update your documents.
✨ When to use a POLST or DNR:
Clear guidance on when these critical documents are needed — and what they actually mean for your care.
✨ And so much more!
Five Wishes: Step-by-Step Advance Care Planning
As a Five Wishes Facilitator, Angelica will help your organization empower individuals to take control of their end-of-life journey. We make the class engaging, interactive with games, and provide all the materials. Participants can ask questions as they work through the Five Wishes document, which doubles to designate your Healthcare Power of Attorney and as a Living Will. We will ensure attendees have a full understanding of the Five Wishes document and its implications, along with the implications of advance planning in general.
What We'll Cover:
- Information about the different sections of the Five Wishes document, including the importance of these sections and how to fill them out
- A step-by-step walkthrough of the document
- Legal and validity considerations for Five Wishes paperwork
- Communication strategies for talking about end-of-life wishes with friends and family
- Common questions and concerns
Workshop length: Approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
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BOOKING YOUR WORKSHOP
Workshops can be delivered in senior centers, libraries, healthcare organizations, community or faith-based organizations, and other locations. They’re ideal for seniors, caregivers, families, employees, and anyone interested in preparing for end-of-life. You’re never too young to get started! Get peace of mind and see how empowering end-of-life planning can be.
FEES:
- Senior Centers: FREE
- Other Non-profits: FREE
- Healthcare organizations: Training for healthcare providers and/or patients $333 per training session
- Financial institutions: $333 per workshop
Angelica provides unbiased guidance and training and is an independent instructor. She does not endorse any insurance company or broker. The booking fee covers the instructor’s time and materials.
What Is Five Wishes?
Five Wishes is the only national advanced care planning program. It relies on a single document that covers spiritual, medical, legal, and personal wishes, with all sections written in easy-to-understand language. The language and style of the document empower people to consider and make decisions about what they want and don’t want at the end of their life.
The Five Wishes paperwork is now available in 30 languages, with digital and physical versions. It is also legally valid in every state except Texas, Ohio, Kansas, and New Hampshire (here some additional paperwork may be needed, but the Five Wishes approach is still helpful).
As the name suggests, Five Wishes covers five key areas:
- The medical treatment you want and don’t want
- The person who will make decisions if you can’t
- Wishes surrounding comfort care
- Spiritual values and beliefs
- Wishes for end-of-life care
About the Facilitator
Angelica Herrera-Venson, DrPH
Angelica Herrera-Venson (DrPH, MPH) is a Gerontologist and a trained Five Wishes facilitator with a long history in public health research and education. Not only was her Doctor of Public Health degree in health education, but she is a former Assistant Professor in higher education and has worked as a community health educator.
Angelica has a strong passion for helping people age with dignity and addressing the needs of all diverse communities. Coupled with her end-of-life doula training, Five Wishes education, and Dementia Care Practitioner certification, she has the in-depth knowledge to support families in the end-of-life planning process and all the complexities that go along with it.
"I offer sacred guidance through life’s most profound transitions. Whether you're preparing end-of-life documents, navigating the emotional terrain of caregiving, or supporting a loved one through dementia, this is a space of clarity, compassion, and peace.
Here, death is not the end—it is honored as a doorway.
Caregiving is not a burden—it is acknowledged as a spiritual path.
Together, we bring dignity, presence, and healing into every threshold."
To learn more about Angelica, visit the About Us page.
The Benefits of Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning allows people to think and talk about the end of their life, including what they would like and what they wouldn’t. Approaches like Five Wishes ensure that these end-of-life wishes are recorded in a legal form, so that they can be honored even if the individual is no longer capable of making decisions for themselves.
There are many advantages to doing so, including the following.
You Can Be Highly Specific
Advance Care Planning documents also allow you to be highly specific about your wishes. This is powerful, as many concepts have different meanings to different people. Being clear and specific ensures that everyone is on the same page about your needs, leaving no room for miscommunication.
Death Can Become More Peaceful
Making end-of-life decisions as they’re needed can be stressful and overwhelming. You often face a decent amount of paperwork and legal processes, at a time that’s often emotional for you and your entire family.
Some health conditions also complicate the decision-making process. Conditions that affect your cognition, like dementia, are particularly notable here, but even those that just affect your physical health are relevant, as they can sap your energy and ability to concentrate.
By making decisions early, advance care planning allows the final months, weeks, and days of life to be more restful. They also ensure the dying individual is treated the way they wish, without the need for conversation or debate.
There’s Peace of Mind for Family Members
While family members may have a general sense of what you hope for at the end of life, most won’t know everything. Getting wishes on paper means that no one needs to try and figure it out. Your decisions are already there, they simply need to be followed.