Advance care planning
An advance care plan lets others know about your wishes in case illness or injury prevents you from telling them yourself.
Advance care planning is designed to help anyone communicate their wishes for medical treatment, whether they are healthy or sick. This planning process will clarify what members of your care circle (family members, friends or others close to you), health care agents and health care providers need to know if you become unable to make health care decisions for yourself.
Advance care planning is a process to:
- Understand your health care treatment options
- Clarify your health care goals
- Weigh your options about what kind of care and treatment you do want or not want
- Make decisions about whom to name as a health care agent or complete a health care directive
- Communicate your wishes and any documents with your care circle and health care provider.
When you put these wishes in writing, this kind of plan is called a health care directive. A health care directive lets you detail your wishes or simply name someone to speak on your behalf when you can’t.
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Health care directives
A health care directive gives your loved ones, health care agents and health care providers direction on what medical care you want or don't want if you can't communicate. This document gives you the chance to write out your wishes.
Free class
Advance care planning: Make your health care wishes known
Make sure your family and health care providers know your goals and values for future health care needs in case illness or injury prevents you from telling them yourself.
Advance care planning reference guides
These guides will help you and your loved ones plan for the future.
Advance care planning videos
Watch some short videos that explain advance care planning and related topics.