Advance Care
Planning
Advance Care Planning is a thoughtful process to plan for future healthcare choices. It involves personal reflection and discussions with loved ones and healthcare providers. The best time to think and talk about end-of-life decisions is during a time of wellness rather than a time of medical crisis. Along with having these important discussions, advance care planning involves putting your goals for care in a written document called an advance directive. Two major components of an advance directive are the Living Will (outlining medical treatment choices) and the Designation of a Health Care Surrogate (appointing someone you trust to make decisions for you when you can no longer speak for yourself).
By establishing an effective advance care plan while you are well, you can help ensure that your decisions will be honored. Sharing your goals of care with clear instructions will give your loved ones peace of mind when having to make difficult decisions for your care ~ the most valuable gift you can give them.
