This blog post provides an overview of advance care planning and explains why it is important for everyone to have in place.] [1] Advance care planning is the process of making decisions about your future health care in case you are unable to speak for yourself. This may be due to a serious illness, injury, or coma. Your advance directives will document your wishes regarding your medical care, including your preferences for life-sustaining treatment, pain management, and end-of-life care.
[2] Advance care planning is important because it gives you the opportunity to ensure that your wishes are respected, even if you are unable to communicate them yourself. It can also help to reduce stress and anxiety for your family and loved ones during a difficult time.
[3] There are a number of different ways to create an advance directive. You can work with your doctor, a lawyer, or a social worker. You can also use a standardized form, such as the Five Wishes document.
[4] It is important to review your advance directives regularly to ensure that they reflect your current wishes. You should also share your directives with your family and loved ones so that they are aware of your wishes.
[Relevant websites:
- The National Institutes of Health: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2024/07/step-step-guide-advance-care-planning
- The American Medical Association: https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/ethics-opinions/advance-care-planning
- The Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/for-patients-and-visitors/advance-care-planning/create-your-plan
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: https://www.cms.gov/outreach-and-education/medicare-learning-network-mln/mlnproducts/downloads/advancecareplanning.pdf
Add comment
Comments