You might be healthy now, but what if you became very sick or injured in the future and important decisions had to be made – decisions that would affect you? Who would you want to speak for you? How would doctors, nurses, and your loved ones know what kind of healthcare you would like to receive, unless you’d made those decisions in advance?
It is never too early to have meaningful conversations regarding the healthcare choices you would make if you could not speak for yourself in a health crisis.
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance care planning is:
- Making decisions now about the types of healthcare you would and would not want to receive if you become very sick or injured and couldn’t speak for yourself in the future.
- Choosing a person you want to speak for you if you’re unable to do so for yourself.
- Talking with your doctors and loved ones about the types of healthcare you want to receive so they’ll respect and honor your values and healthcare goals.
- Writing down your healthcare goals in a MyCare advance directive.
Advance care planning is a helpful way for people of all ages, in all stages of life to prepare for the future. Having an advance health care directive is a lasting gift to give to your family and friends.
Resources to complete your own MyCare Advance Directive: