While advance care plans may not be something that most people want to think about, they can provide peace of mind that you will be cared for according to your wishes when the time comes. This can help you feel less anxious and can help clear up a myriad of questions for your family members and loved ones who may be the ones left making decisions for you down the road. By making your wishes known now, you can ensure that you get the exact type and style of care you want later when you are physically or mentally unable to make these decisions.
- The first benefit of working on an advance care plan is that it will get an important discussion started. This can be a difficult conversation for many people to have with their loved ones because most people do not want to think about the end of their life. Once the conversation is started, the hardest part is often over.
- Second, you will be able to make your wishes known. You can state which treatments you would like and which treatments you would refuse. Many of these scenarios may never come into play, but planning for them can take away much of the anxiety.
- Third, the benefits of an advance care plan are enormous if you do not wish to have aggressive treatment later in life. This is because most doctors will perform the most aggressive treatment possible unless you have given them a clear directive against this.
Your advance care plan should include several key pieces of information. In fact, to ensure that you cover all main points, you may want to follow a standard form or work with a lawyer who specializes in these concerns. In general, your advance care plan should include information about your end-of-life care, what treatments you are willing to have and values that are important to be included as part of your care.
