Advance Care Planning is a process of discussing, preparing and documenting your wishes and/or preferences. Decisions are based on your personal beliefs and values. Advance care planning can be difficult to think about, much less discuss with your loved ones. Remember, this is an ongoing discussion and you don’t have to make all your decisions right now. Discussing your thoughts, questions, preferences and even fears will assist you and your loved ones in caring for you both now and at the end of life.

Types of Advance Care Planning

Advance Directives (AD)

Advance Directives are legal documents that allow you to write down your preferences about your future medical care in the event you are unable to express your medical wishes. To learn more please visit our Advance Directives page.

Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)

POLST is a physician order that helps give seriously ill patients more control over their end-of-life care.  To learn more please visit our POLST page.

Last Will or Testament

A Last will or Testament is a legal document that expresses a person’s wishes as to how their property is to be distributed after their death and as to which person is to manage the property until its final distribution. 

Long Term Care and Placement

The best time to think about long-term care is before you need it. Planning for long-term care gives you time to learn about services in your community and what they cost. It also allows you to make important decisions while you are still able.