Advance care planning is a simple process that you can start today. It involves thinking about your values, beliefs and preferences for your future health and care while you are still able to make decisions and communicate your preferences and acceptable outcomes.
It also involves discussing this with your loved ones and doctors and documenting them to ensure your loved ones and health providers know what matters most to you and respect your treatment preferences.
Ideally, advance care planning will result in your preferences being documented in a plan known as an Advance Care Directive, and the appointment of a substitute decision-maker to help ensure your preferences are respected.
Advance care planning is a process that includes thinking about, talking about and documenting your values, preferences and instructions for future care.
An Advance Care Directive is a legally binding document that sets out your values, preferences and instructions for future health care, and will be come into effect if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Appointment of a substitute decision maker is a separate document that appoints someone you chose to speak on your behalf, if you are unable to speak for yourself.
Store your advance care planning documents safely and share them with those who may need them. They can be uploaded to your My Health Record, making it easily accessible to you and your health care providers.