Advance care planning gives you a voice in your health care, no matter what the future brings.
National Advance Care Planning Week is the perfect time to attend an event or start a conversation with loved ones about what’s important to you.
Care Planning Australia
Advance care planning is the process of planning for your future health care. It relates to health care you would or would not like to receive if you were to become seriously ill or injured and are unable to communicate your preferences or make decisions. This often relates to the care you receive at the end of your life.
Why it's important
Advance care planning benefits everyone: you, your family, carers and health professionals.
It helps to ensure you receive the care you actually want
It improves ongoing and end-of-life care, along with personal and family satisfaction
Families of people who have undertaken advance care planning have less anxiety, depression, stress and are more satisfied with care
For healthcare professionals and organisations, it reduces unnecessary transfers to acute care and unwanted treatment
If you haven't documented your preferences or identified a substitute decision-maker, and you become seriously ill or injured, doctors will make treatment decisions based on their assessment of your best interests. This may include treatments that you would not want.