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What is Advanced Care Planning?
- Learning about available life sustaining treatment options
- Thinking about your values
- Talking about your decisions
- Documenting your wishes
- Designating a decision maker on your behalf if and when the need were to arise
Why it is important to plan ahead
- When you are unable to speak for yourself
- When sudden illness or accidents happen
- By leaving a guide for others to follow
- By giving peace of mind to loved ones
Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
- Can be anyone over the age of 18
- Can be a family member, loved one or close friend
- Cannot be your personal physician
- Should be someone you trust, knows you well, will advocate for your wishes and will honor your wishes
Living Will
- States what you want and do not want for life sustaining medical treatments at the end of life or if you are permanently unconscious
- May also be called Directive to Physicians, Healthcare Declaration or Medical Directive
- It should reflect your wishes
- Lawyers are not needed
- Not all documents are legally valid in every state
- Your Advanced Directive does not expire, but can be updated or recreated at any time