Legal and planning
Advance care planning
Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and sharing your wishes for future medical care. It includes talking with family and doctors, naming a health care proxy and completing documents such as a living will. It is a process, not a single form.
Why it matters for your family
The National Institute on Aging says advance care planning helps people stay in control of an uncertain future. It also helps families. Parents who share their wishes spare their children from guessing during a crisis. The best time is before illness. A common mistake is to treat it as one signing. Wishes can change, so review them each year and after a major event. Talk about values, such as what matters most for the person's quality of life, not only about treatments. Share the results with the doctor, proxy and home caregivers. This is general information. A doctor or an attorney can help with details.
Source: nia.nih.gov
Read more: What is Elder Law and Do You Need an Elder Care Attorney?
Related terms
- Advance directiveAn advance directive is a legal document that states your health care wishes in case you cannot decide for yourself.
- Living willA living will is a legal document that tells doctors how you want to be treated if you cannot make your own decisions about emergency treatment.
- Healthcare proxyA healthcare proxy is a person you name to make medical decisions for you if you cannot speak for yourself.
- Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)POLST is a portable medical order for seriously ill people.
- Medical power of attorneyA medical power of attorney is a legal document that names someone to make health care decisions for you if you cannot.
- Do not resuscitate order (DNR)A do not resuscitate (DNR) order is a medical order that tells health care professionals not to perform CPR if a person's heart or breathing stops.
