An advance care plan captures your wishes ahead of time
Whether you’re 21 or 99 years old, putting your preferences, goals and values of care into writing can be a good idea for people of all ages and health. Creating an advance care plan allows you to document your healthcare preferences and identify any individuals who can help speak and make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
Advance care planning can include written documents, conversations with your loved ones, and formal legal directives. It is helpful to review and update your plan regularly as your health status or perspectives change.
Examples of decisions you can document in an advance care plan
In emergencies, doctors have a variety of treatment options. They may sometimes use artificial ways to keep someone alive or administer care focused on relief of pain and anxiety, depending on the patient’s wishes. With an advance care plan, you can make advance decisions such as these:
- Who should make healthcare decisions on your behalf?
- Should a doctor administer certain treatments such as CPR, a ventilator or a feeding tube?
- How may religious or personal preferences affect your treatment?
- Would you want certain types of medical care that focus on comfort and relief of pain and anxiety?1
You can change your decisions at any time. It is easy to make updates if your health status or perspectives change.
Is an advance directive the same as a physician order for life-sustaining treatment?
A physician order for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) is different than an advance care plan but is also an important document. A POLST is more focused on the very end of life and is completed by a doctor. On the other hand, an advance care plan is completed by you and captures details you consider important regarding your care.
Important things to know about advance care planning
- Your advance care plan is a private document. Only you, your healthcare agents, authorized representatives and your providers will have access to its contents.
- You are the one who decides who can see your documented preferences, goals and values for care.
- You can update your advance care plan at any time to reflect changes in your health status or personal wishes.
Creating your advance care plan helps ensure your wishes will be known when you cannot speak for yourself. It can help provide peace of mind for your family to know your wishes are being honored.
Please keep your advance care planning documents in a safe, secure and accessible location.
