Advance Care Planning
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing for future decisions about your medical care if you become seriously ill or unable to communicate your wishes. Having meaningful conversations with your loved ones is the most important part of advance care planning. Many people also choose to put their preferences in writing by completing legal documents called advance directives.
What are Advance Directives?
Advance Directives are a set of legal documents that you make in advance to direct physicians and/or family members of actions that should be taken on your behalf when you are unable to communicate your wishes due to illness.
- Free - Does not require attorney to complete
- Remain in effect until you change or revoke them
Research shows that 92% of individuals said talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care was important. However, 32% have actually done so. An Advance Directive can provide a catalyst for difficult conversations and help document your future medical wishes.Â
- Your Spouse
- Your adult child, or a majority of your adult children, your parents
- A person you clearly identified to act for you before you became incapacitated
- Your nearest living relative or member of the clergy
What kind of Advance Directives are available?
- Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates
It states your wishes about withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining procedures if your condition is terminal or irreversible and death is imminent, as certified by two physicians.
- Medical Power of Attorney
Allows you to name a person you trust as the agent who is authorized to make medical decisions for you when your doctor determines that you are unable to make your own treatment decisions. It is effective only during the period of your incapacity.
- Declaration for Mental Health Treatment (DMHT)
A DMHT is a legal document that allows you to tell your doctor and other health care providers about your preferences and instructions regarding your mental health care treatment if you can no longer make these decisions yourself.
- Out-of-Hospital Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)
An Out-of-Hospital DNR tells emergency medical professionals not to resuscitate you and allow you to die a natural death, but it does not affect treatment designed to make you more comfortable or to reduce your pain.
Additional Resources & Educational Materials
