What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a process in which an individual discusses their future healthcare preferences, values, and goals with family members and the healthcare team. It allows you to document and communicate your wishes for care if you ever become unable to make or express decisions for yourself.
Why is Advance Care Planning important?
- Respects the patient’s wishes: Ensures your preferences are followed when you are not able to speak for yourself.
- Reduces stress on loved ones: when making critical healthcare decisions.
- Improves communication between patients, their families and medical team.
- Guides appropriate care: to align with your personal goals and values.
Who is it for, and when should it be started?
- For all adults of any age or health status, whether healthy or suffering from illnesses
- It can be introduced during annual check-ups or when there is a change in health status.
- It is very essential in cases involving a diagnosis of chronic or serious illnesses.
How often should it be reviewed or updated?
- They are reviewed regularly, especially when there are changes in health status.
Who can help with Advance Care Planning?
- Healthcare team: Physicians, nurses, social workers.
- Family and close friends.
- A health agent is someone you choose to represent you if you are unable to make decisions yourself.
What are the Benefits of Advance Care Planning?
- Ensuring that the patient's personal wishes are respected.
- Reducing the burden on the family when making decisions.
- Improving the quality of life and care, and aligning it with the patient's important goals.
- Reducing the use of unnecessary healthcare resources.
How to carry out Advance Care Planning?
- Creating a comfortable environment.
- Identifying key participants: family members, close friends, health professionals.
- Clarifying medical information:regarding the current health status and future prospects.
- Discussing important goals and values in the patient's life.
- Reviewing possible life-sustaining treatments.
- Allowing time for reflection and decisions.
- Documenting your choices.
- Periodic review when health or personal circumstances change.
This educational material is brief and does not replace consulting specialists or review of local laws. It is always recommended to contact physicians and specialists when developing formal documents regarding advance health care planning.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Information on advance health care planning and end-of-life decisions.
- National Institute on Aging – Educational materials on developing advance care plans and health care powers of attorney.
- Advance Care Planning Canada – Guidance information and resources on advance health care planning.
- Canadian Virtual Hospice – Resources on palliative care and advance care planning.
- The Conversation Project – A guide to conversations about end-of-life medical wishes.
