What is Advance Care Planning?

Talking to a parent or other loved one about their end-of-life wishes is one of the most difficult conversations you’ll ever have. It’s also a great act of love. Supporting someone else as they make advance care plans is an actionable way to ensure that their preferences are honored and they spend their final days of life according to their wishes.

Understanding Advance Care Planning

Making plans for the future isn’t something only older people need to do. Anyone can become unexpectedly debilitated and unable to communicate their wishes. Advance care planning (ACP) allows you to put your wishes into legal documents known as advance directives.

Advance care planning isn’t the same as a will that directs the division of your assets. ACP addresses medical needs. Advance planning is typically part of estate planning, but you can make plans for future health care without preparing a will or making other estate-related decisions.

The steps to advance care planning include:

Contemplating your preferences for future medical care
Choosing a health care proxy (someone to make medical decisions for you)
Talking about your wishes with your proxy and close loved ones
Completing advance care planning documents
Making and sharing copies of advance care planning documents
Reviewing your ACP periodically to ensure all information is updated

With an advance care plan, loved ones won’t be left guessing what kind of medical care you would want if you were able to communicate your preferences.

Without a health care proxy, it is still possible for a loved one to oversee medical decisions on your behalf, but a living will makes the process easier both legally and emotionally. Life-saving care won’t be delayed while the state appoints a health care proxy.

Examples of Advance Directives

Several kinds of legal documents can be included in ACP. The two main advance directives are a living will and a power of attorney for health care.

Living Will

A living will specifies all the types of medical care you do or do not want if you should become incapacitated. You are in complete control of what goes into the living will. The document can include specific directions for different types of health scenarios, such as when you would want to be removed from a ventilator or if you want to be resuscitated if your breathing and heartbeats stop.

Your preferences for health care issues such as organ and tissue donation, palliative care, blood transfusions, and dialysis may also be included in a living will.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Also known as a “health care proxy,” a power of attorney for health care appoints a person you trust to make decisions about your care if you are unable to do so.

For example, a person with advanced dementia may not be able to make sound health decisions. If they have granted a family member or trusted friend a power of attorney for health care, that person would be responsible for carrying out the directions in their living will.

Overcoming Barriers to Advance Care Planning

Thinking about the possibility of becoming incapacitated is understandably uncomfortable. Some people cope with this discomfort by denying it could ever happen to them. Confusion about what advance directives are or are not can also be a barrier to planning. Additionally, cultural or religious beliefs can discourage some people from making plans for future health care.

Whether you are considering ACP for yourself or you wish to speak about end-of-life decisions with an aging loved one, there are gentle ways to approach the subject. Consider asking questions like:

Will you help me make plans for the future?
Remember how confusing it was when _____ died? I wonder what her family could have done differently.
If your loved one experiences a serious illness or hospitalization, say, “This experience has me wondering if I understand your wishes correctly.”

Remind loved ones that an advance care plan isn’t written in stone. It can be changed throughout the years to reflect the individual’s changing circumstances.

Are You Ready to Discuss Advance Care Planning?

Any time is a good time to talk with your loved one about their preferences for end-of-life care. The conversation isn’t an easy one, but it will make life easier for everyone involved if the time comes.

Communication is the key to overcoming all of these barriers. Speak with your primary health care provider or estate attorney to learn more about advance care planning.

If you or your family member is considering in-home care as part of a plan to age in place, contact Family Matters In-Home Care today for a free consultation. Our team is dedicated to supporting your family and helping older adults enjoy life in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible.

Some of the services offered by Family Matter In-Home Care include: Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care, Bed & Wheelchair Transfer Assistance, Companionship, Housekeeping & Meal Preparation, Personal Care, Recovery Care, and Transportation.

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater San Diego, Family Matter In-Home Care has offices throughout California.

Carol Pardue-Spears

Carol has worked in the healthcare field for more than forty years. As a Certified Nursing Assistant, she worked for El Camino Hospital in the cardiac unit, Los Gatos Community Hospital, The Women’s Cancer Center in Los Gatos and several home health and hospice agencies. Carol founded Family Matters in 2002 to fill a deficit she witnessed in high-quality, in-home services and care.