Life can be unpredictable, but your healthcare choices don’t have to be. Advance care planning ensures your wishes are known, even if you can’t speak for yourself. By documenting your preferences in an Advance Care Directive and appointing a substitute decision-maker, you give yourself and your loved one’s peace of mind. This answer questions about Advance Care Planning and why it’s important to have the conversation today.
Have you considered an advance care plan?
We plan for many stages of life, such as retirement – but have you planned for what you would – or would not – want if you were faced with a life-changing illness or injury and communicate your wishes?
Having an advance care plan in these situations can make a big difference for ourselves and those we love.
Advance care planning is about reflecting on your treatment preferences, who you would like to act as your substitute decision-maker and then documenting these wishes in an advance care directive.
Who will choose what’s best for you?
Without documented preferences or a designated decision-maker, doctors tend to decide based on your best interests, which may include treatments or outcomes you wouldn’t have chosen.
A clear advance care directive ensures your loved ones are supported to make those decisions.
While these discussions can feel challenging or uncomfortable, they provide clarity and peace of mind if difficult decisions ever need to be made.
When should I start planning?
Anyone over the age of 18 can create an advanced care plan but whatever your age, it’s best to plan before a health crisis arises.
Advance care planning is especially important if you:
- Are older
- Have a chronic illness
- Manage multiple health conditions
- Have early cognitive impairment
- Are nearing the end of life
How do I create an Advanced Care Plan and Directive?
The process
Advance care planning is a voluntary process and requires thoughtful reflection. It means considering your values, care preferences, and acceptable outcomes, discussing them with loved ones, choosing a trusted decision-maker, and documenting your wishes.
The process of Advance Care Planning encourages you to consider the types of treatment and outcomes that matter to you. These might include:
- Life-sustaining treatments like ventilation – under what circumstances would you accept or decline it?
- When, if ever, would you choose not to receive life-sustaining interventions.
- Whether you would accept blood products, such as a transfusion.
- Your preferences for certain medications and the situations in which you would want them administered.
For more information about creating your Advanced Care Plan visit. https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan-wa
Common words used in advance care planning
While they’re closely related, Advance Care Planning and an Advance Care Directive serve different purposes:
Advance Care Planning
This is the broader process of thinking about, discussing, and documenting your future health care preferences. It involves conversations with your loved ones, doctors, and possibly a legal or medical professional to ensure your wishes are understood.
Advance Care Directive
This is a legal document that records your specific medical treatment preferences in case you become unable to communicate. It may also include appointing a substitute decision-maker who can speak on your behalf.
In short, Advance Care Planning is the process, and an Advance Care Directive is the outcome—a written plan that ensures your wishes are followed.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA): a legal document that allows you to appoint someone you trust to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so yourself. Unlike a general power of attorney, which is only valid while you have decision-making capacity, an Enduring Power of Attorney remains in effect even if you lose the ability to make decisions due to illness, injury, or ageing.
It’s important to note that an EPA usually does not cover medical or personal care decisions—these are typically addressed through an Advance Care Directive or a separate legal appointment, such as an Enduring Guardian.
Enduring Guardian (Western Australia) is someone you legally appoint to make personal, lifestyle, and health care decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make them yourself. This could include decisions about where you live, what medical treatments you receive, and other day-to-day personal matters.
Unlike an Enduring Power of Attorney, which covers financial and legal decisions, an Enduring Guardian focuses on your health and personal well-being. You can choose what specific powers they have, ensuring your preferences are respected if you’re ever unable to communicate your wishes.
Advance Care Planning Australia has more information on their website and can help you with your advance care planning.
Western Australia: create your plan | Advance Care Planning
National Advance Care Planning Support Service or phone 1300 208 582 for more information and advice. Available 9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday (AEST).
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