Advance care planning aims to help your family and others understand what is important to you, your beliefs and values including your preferences about your health and personal care when you can no longer communicate this.
This is a voluntary process of planning future health and personal care, and it is best to start planning when you are well and able to make decisions, the earlier the better. It is particularly important if you are 75+ years of age with an advanced chronic illness, have a life limiting illness, or at risk of losing competence.
Ideally, advance health planning will result in your preferences being documented in a plan, known as an advance care directive and the appointment of a substitute decision maker to help ensure your preferences are respected.
An Advance Health Directive is a legal document that gives you a voice should you become unable to make decisions or communicate your wishes if become seriously unwell or injured. This is the only time your Advance Health Directive can be used.
Start the conversation with your doctor today or visit Advance Care Planning for further information.
Recent Comments