Are you making a plan?
Benefits
- You are in control: Recording your wishes will help you to feel in control over your future.
- Peace of mind: Helps those important to you as they will know your wishes in case they have to make decisions for you in future.
- Healthcare staff will know your wishes about what treatments and care you want.
- Early conversations help you to know what is available in the future and think about other options if your wishes are not possible.
- Rights are protected: this is important if you are not able to voice your wishes in the future.
Benefits for your loved ones
- Comfort: those important to you will know they are following your wishes.
- Reduces conflict between those important to you as your decisions will be clear.
Is someone important to you making a plan?
Benefits for person making a plan
- Control: The person important to you will feel in control of their future.
- Their wishes are known: Healthcare staff will know what treatments and care they want.
- Early conversations show what options are available and allow time to talk about other choices if some are not possible.
- Rights are protected: especially if they are not able to voice their wishes in the future.
Benefits for you
- Comfort for you knowing their wishes.
- Reduces worry if you have to make decisions for the person in future.
- Reduces family disagreements as wishes will be clear.
In the video below Carol Morrow provides a caregiver’s perspective of the benefits and challenges of the advance care planning process.