Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning (ACP) involves making decisions about your future medical care in the event that you are unable to make those decisions yourself. This can include decisions about the types of medical treatment you want or don't want, who will make decisions for you if you are unable to do so, and what your end-of-life wishes are.

Why is Advance Care Planning Important?

ACP is important because it ensures that your wishes are respected and that you receive the medical care that you want. It also relieves the burden on your family and friends to make difficult decisions on your behalf at a time when they may be grieving or emotionally distressed.

What are the Benefits of Advance Care Planning?

There are many benefits to ACP, including:

• Peace of mind: knowing that your wishes will be respected can give you peace of mind and reduce anxiety.
• Improved communication: ACP can improve communication between you and your healthcare providers, ensuring that they understand your wishes.
• Less stress on your family and friends: ACP can reduce stress on your family and friends by making it clear what your wishes are.
• Better quality of care: ACP can help you get the best possible medical care by ensuring that your wishes are followed.
• Reduced healthcare costs: ACP can help reduce healthcare costs by avoiding unnecessary treatments and procedures.

Who Should Do Advance Care Planning?

Everyone over the age of 18 should do ACP, regardless of their health or age. Even if you are healthy, you never know when an accident or illness could strike. ACP is especially important for people who have serious illnesses or who are nearing the end of their life.

How Do I Do Advance Care Planning?

There are three main steps to ACP:

1. Think about your values and what is important to you in life. What are your goals for your healthcare? What are your fears and concerns? What kind of medical care do you want or don't want?
2. Talk to your healthcare providers about your wishes. Discuss your values and goals with your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare providers. They can help you understand your options and make informed decisions.
3. Write down your wishes in a legal document. The most common legal documents used for ACP are advance directives. An advance directive is a legal document that expresses your wishes about medical treatment in the event that you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

What Are the Different Types of Advance Directives?

There are two main types of advance directives:

• A living will is a document that states your wishes about the types of medical treatment you want or don't want. A living will only goes into effect if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
• A healthcare power of attorney is a document that appoints someone to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. This person is known as your healthcare agent or proxy.

Where Can I Get Help with Advance Care Planning?

There are many resources available to help you with ACP, including:

• Your healthcare provider: Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare providers can provide you with information and resources on ACP.
• Hospice organizations: Hospice organizations offer ACP services to patients and their families. These services may include counseling, education, and support.
• Aging and disability organizations: Aging and disability organizations offer ACP services to older adults and people with disabilities, including counseling, education, and support.
• Online resources: There are many online resources available to help you with ACP, including the National Institute on Aging's website.

Conclusion

ACP is an important part of healthcare planning. It allows you to make decisions about your future medical care and ensures that your wishes are respected. There are many resources available to help you with ACP, so don't hesitate to reach out for help if you need it.