Advance care planning explained
Advance care planning involves thinking about your future medical care when you might not be able to make decisions for yourself. It applies to the kind of care you want if you become seriously ill or injured and are unable to communicate your preferences or make decisions. This is sometimes called end-of-life care, and it includes the type of medical care you would or would not accept when you're near death.
Health care advance planning gives you the opportunity to think about and express your preferences for the type of care you would like to receive as well as what outcomes you consider acceptable. This will help ensure that your loved ones and health care providers know your preferences and that these preferences are respected.
Fortunately, when advance care planning is done properly, your preferences will be recorded in a plan known as an advance care directive—which, when implemented by a substitute decision-maker, will help ensure your wishes are respected.
Why it's important
Advance care planning benefits everyone involved:
It helps you to be sure that you are getting the care you want and need
It improves ongoing and end-of-life care, along with personal and family satisfaction
When people make advanced care plans, their families report less anxiety, depression, and stress and are more satisfied with care
For healthcare professionals and organisations, it reduces the need for unnecessary transfers to acute care and unwanted treatment.
If you haven't documented your health care preferences or identified a substitute decision-maker, and you become seriously injured or ill, doctors will make treatment decisions based on what they think is in your best interests. This may include treatments that you would not want.
Everyone needs a plan
Everyone should consider advance care planning, regardless of your age or health. The earlier you start planning, the better placed you are to ensure that your wishes are respected.