There’s no correct answer when it comes to advance care planning. Opinions, preferences and wishes vary widely. Even close family members often disagree. This is what makes advance care planning crucial.
Advance Directives
Advance directives are an effective way to make health care and end-of-life decisions known. These legal documents let you speak for yourself when you’re unable to communicate.
Three common types of advance directives include:
- A medical power of attorney, also called a durable power of attorney for health care, names a specific person to make health care decisions for someone if they’re unable to do it.
- Living wills describe the kinds of medical care someone wants or doesn’t want when unable to speak for themself.
- Mental health advance directives allow people with mental health conditions to express what type of care they’d like during a mental health crisis.
If you do not want any medical treatments to restart your breathing or heart if they stop, talk with your provider about a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. For people with a serious or terminal illness, Maryland Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) can provide additional information for providers. If you do not live in Maryland, check with your state for the appropriate form.
The 4 Steps of Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning may feel challenging, but the process only has four steps:
- Consider your values and wishes:
- What makes your life worth living?
- How much daily assistance are you comfortable with?
- Do you want to be cared for at home, the hospital or elsewhere?
- Which treatments do you want to receive or avoid?
- Talk with your family members and providers about your decisions.
- Choose a trusted person to be your medical power of attorney—pick someone who will follow your wishes even if they’d make a different choice for themself.
- Write down your decisions on forms approved by your state. Keep original documents in a safe place and give copies to your provider and medical power attorney.
Benefits of Advance Care Planning
In addition to making your wishes known, advance care planning can offer several more benefits, including:
- Decreased end-of-life care costs
- Earlier palliative or hospice care
- Fewer unwanted or unnecessary medical treatments
- Less confusion or conflict for your loved ones
- More control over your care, even when you’re unable to speak
- Shorter hospital stays and fewer hospitalizations
People who are proactive about advance care planning tend to report decreased anxiety and higher satisfaction with their care.
It’s Always OK to Change Your Mind
It’s a good idea to revisit your advance directives yearly. Changes in life circumstances or health may lead you to want something different.
More to Read
- 10 Things You Need to Know About Your Aging Parents
- Choosing the Best Palliative Care
- 26 Key Medical Terms That Everyone Should Know
- Fall Prevention: Avoiding Accidents as You Get Older
Medically reviewed by Lisa Karmel, UM Upper Chesapeake Health