An advance care plan captures your wishes in case you become ill

This might be a good time to begin putting your preferences, goals, and values of care into writing. An advance care plan can help make sure your voice is heard in the event you unexpectedly become too ill to speak for yourself.

CarePlus has teamed up with MyDirectives^®, a digital advance care plan that can be accessed anywhere in the world at any time. MyDirectives allows you to create a digital ACP online, or if you prefer, to upload existing paper documents. You can also identify the individuals you would like to speak on your behalf if it comes to that.

MyDirectives offers video tutorials, a printable conversation guide for family discussions and a wallet card to print, complete with a Quick Response (QR) code to make it easy for your providers to find your plan. If you have an Apple device, you can download the MyDirectives mobile app and take pictures of paper documents to upload or record a video message to your family and/or providers.

Examples of preferences covered in an ACP

In emergencies, doctors have a variety of treatment options. Near the end of life, they can sometimes use artificial or mechanical ways to keep someone alive, or they can focus more on relief of pain and anxiety, depending on the patient’s wishes. With an advance care plan, you can make your feelings known in advance on such questions as:

• Who should make healthcare decisions on your behalf
• Whether you would like certain treatments such as CPR, a ventilator, or a feeding tube
• How religious or personal preferences might affect your treatment
• Whether to request medical care focusing on comfort care to relieve pain and anxiety) ^1,2

You may be familiar with a POLST, which means a Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment. A POLST is different than an advance care plan but it 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. It is appropriate for everyone over the age of 18 and can be easily updated as your health status or perspectives change.

Important things to know about CarePlus and MyDirectives

• Only you, your healthcare agents, authorized representatives, and your providers will know what’s in your ACP. Neither CarePlus nor Medicare will be aware of what’s in your plan.
• You are the one who decides who can see your goals, values, and preferences for care.
• You can update your advance care plan at any time, at no additional cost to you.

Creating your MyDirectives 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.

Sign up and complete a MyDirectives plan online today(link opens in new window)

If you are a CarePlus member enrolled in a special needs plan such as CareNeeds PLUS (HMO D-SNP), you may also contact your CarePlus Case Manager to create an advance care plan.

Please keep your advance care planning documents in a safe, secure, and accessible location. If you have an Apple device, you can download the MyDirectives mobile app and take pictures of paper documents to upload or record a video message to your family and providers.

Sources

¹ “Advance Care Planning: Healthcare Directives,” National Institute on Aging, last accessed April 22, 2020, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-healthcare-directives (link opens in new window)

² “Providing Care and Comfort at the End of Life,” National Institute on Aging, last accessed April 22, 2020, https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-comfort-end-life (link opens in new window)

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