Advance care planning is making decisions about the care you would want to receive if you happen to become unable to speak for yourself.  These are your decisions to make, regardless of what you choose for your care, and the decisions are based on your personal values, preferences, and discussions with your loved ones.  A part of advance care planning is also communicating your wishes with your loved ones and healthcare providers to provide guidance and comfort to them if something should happen to you.  

 Advance care planning includes:

• Getting information on the types of life-sustaining treatments that are available.
• Deciding what types of treatment you would or would not want should you be diagnosed with a life-limiting illness.
• Getting information on how your disease will progress if you have a life-limiting illness.
• Discussing with your doctor what your treatments are expected to accomplish and what the risks of these treatments are.
• Sharing your personal values with your loved ones.  Your spiritual values and beliefs make up who you are and may determine which procedures you want – or do not want.
• Using advance directives to put into writing what types of treatments you would want if you are no longer able to speak for yourself. 

Click on the links above for copies of the forms that will help you with your Advance care planning.