National Hospice and Palliative Care Month: Advanced Care Planning

Although advanced care planning may not necessarily be enjoyable, it’s one of the focuses of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November. Learning about advanced care planning can help you determine your wishes and help start the conversation among your loved ones to ensure everyone is on the same page. Use the following guide to explore advanced care planning and how you can approach this topic with several resources at your disposal. 

What is Advanced Care Planning? 

Advanced care planning describes the process of determining and making known your end-of-life wishes. For many people, it’s a hard conversation to have with themselves, let alone their loved ones. However, advanced care planning asks the hard questions early on to ensure your loved ones know what you want when the time comes. 

Much of the decisions made in advanced care planning concern medical care. These specific decisions clearly outline how you want loved ones and doctors to treat you should you be unable to express your desires. Despite the subject matter, loved ones also often appreciate advanced care planning because it allows them to focus on grieving rather than guilt. 

A living will is one of the most common documents associated with advanced care planning. Other documents include a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, a special healthcare power of attorney, and an organ donation authorization card. 

Preparing for the Future: National Hospice and Palliative Care Month

The approach you take to advanced care planning depends on what’s most important to you, but the process often consists of a few common steps, including the following: 

• Exploring what it is you wish to happen as you near your mortality

• Deciding who you appoint as a healthcare proxy or medical power of attorney

• Talking with your doctor to ensure they’re aware of your decisions 

• Completing advanced care planning forms to demonstrate your wishes

• Making copies and sharing those documents with your loved ones 

• Keeping your forms and family updated annually 

Now that you know a bit more about advanced care planning, explore the resources below to begin the process. 

Advanced Care Planning Resources

We don’t recommend diving right into advanced care planning, as the process can be challenging enough. Here are a few resources that can help guide you in discovering and sharing your wishes: 

• Advance Care Planning from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Advance Care Planning Worksheets | National Institute on Aging

• The VA’s “What You Should Know About Advance Directives” Guide

• State-Specific Advance Directive Forms from CaringInfo   

• Your Conversation Starter Guide from The Conversation Project

The final resource in the list above can help you start the conversation with your loved ones. Fill out the questionnaire to explore what you want and how you can express that to those you care about who care about you. 

Right at Home Haverhill: Quality Senior Care and Support 

Although it may never feel like the right time to have difficult conversations with those you love, facing the alternative is even more challenging. Right at Home Haverhill encourages you to explore advanced care planning this November and begin the conversation with your loved ones. If you’d like to learn more about how we support local seniors and their decisions, contact us to schedule a free consultation.