The process can seem overwhelming. It is important to remember people are available who can make the process more manageable. Below is a list of steps involved in advance care planning.
Reflect on the values and beliefs about end of life that are most important to you. What makes life meaningful for you and what situations might make life seem meaningless? What brings pleasure and joy to your life?
Talk with health care professionals about medical treatments for the very ill or injured. Discuss the benefits and risks of those treatments.
Reflect on the role that spirituality has on your life. What are your religious, cultural, and spiritual values around life and death?
Decide on guiding principles that show at what point you would want your health to focus more on maximum curative care to maximum conservative care.
Discuss your choices and wishes with those closest to you so they know what you would want in the event something bad would happen to you. Please see the Have Conversations page for more information.
Choose who you would want to speak for you if you could not speak for yourself or make your own medical decisions.