Hospice
843-546-3410
Advanced Care Planning: Advance Directives for Health Care
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance care planning involves discussing and preparing with your loved ones and physicians your decisions about your future medical care should you became ill or unable to communicate your wishes.
Who needs an advance care plan?
Everyone over the age of 18, regardless of their current health status needs advanced care planning. At any age, a medical crisis could leave you unable to communicate your health care wishes to your loved ones and physicians.
Why is advance care planning important?
Advance care planning is important as it helps ensure you will receive the care you want in the future, even if they are unable to communicate their wishes. It is a gift to give your loved ones who might otherwise struggle during a medical emergency to make choices about your care.
Sharing, planning and executing your healthcare decisions with loved ones and physicians is a “GIFT” you give your loved ones.
Implementing Your Advance Care Plan…
By implementing your advance care plan, you are ensuring your choices will be respected and honored by family members and healthcare providers if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Advanced Directives for Health Care
Advanced Directives for health care are legal documents that provide instructions for your medical care. They allow your medical wishes to be known and enable you to designate a decision maker if you become unable to speak for yourself.
The two most common advance directives for health care are the living will and the durable power of attorney for health care.