Community
Anytime is a good time to complete an advance care plan. Whether you are 18 or 108, completing an advance care plan can make sure that your wishes are known, even when you can't speak for yourself.
To start your advance care plan, think about what is important to you, including your wishes and values. You may not be able to predict every choice you will have to make, but you can start to share your wishes with those who matter most. These discussions can help you clarify what you want and don’t want for care if you were unable to speak for yourself.
Once you have determined your wishes and values, write them down in an advance care plan and determine who will speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself (your health care agent). Voice Your Choice offers access to free educational resources and free online advance care planning that will make your plan easier to complete and more accessible in an emergency. When you have finished your advance care plan, be sure to share that information with your health care agent, those who matter most to you, and your health care providers.
Remember, you don’t need to make all your decisions at once. Advance care planning is a process and you can change your mind and update your plan at any time.
Once you have determined your wishes and values, write them down in an advance care plan and determine who will speak for you if you can’t speak for yourself (your health care agent). Voice Your Choice offers access to free educational resources and free online advance care planning that will make your plan easier to complete and more accessible in an emergency. When you have finished your advance care plan, be sure to share that information with your health care agent, those who matter most to you, and your health care providers.
Remember, you don’t need to make all your decisions at once. Advance care planning is a process and you can change your mind and update your plan at any time.
Take Action
Advance Care Planning Resources
Voice Your Choice – offers online resources for information about advance care planning and a free online tool where you can create a digital advance care plan or upload an existing paper advance care plan
Webinar on Demand: "How to Upload an Existing Advance Care Plan to an Online Platform"
Webinar on Demand: "An Introduction to Advance Care Planning"
Attend a Community Training
Free community trainings provide a detailed step-by-step process to help you choose a health care agent and complete an advance care plan. Unique to these training is access to a free online tool that increases accessibility and mobility of advance care plans.
Learn More About Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is the process of identifying and documenting your health care wishes and values if you are unable to speak for yourself due to a serious illness or an emergency.