Who needs to know that advance care choices have been made?

Advance care planning is about communicating what personal care you do or do not want to receive in the future to whoever will be making those decisions for you if you are not capable. That would be, first and foremost, your substitute decision-maker, but could also include your family, close friends, doctor, lawyer, or other care providers, as you see fit.

Your family and friends may need encouragement and time to accept the idea of advance care planning before they are ready to hear about your wishes for the future. Many people do not like to talk about illness, mental incapacity or death. Tell them how important it is to you to talk about this now. Talk through potential disagreements on care options, as this may prevent problems later on.

How can you ensure that your care choices are understood?

Your values and beliefs will influence your wishes. Talk about them with your substitute decision-maker and those close to you, to help them understand your wishes clearly.

You may change your mind at any time. Review your wishes on a regular basis with your substitute decision-maker and make sure your family, friends and care providers are aware of any changes. The more they know about your care wishes, the better they will be able to act on them. The personal care wishes you express while capable are legally binding.

Talk to your substitute decision-maker about whether it is helpful if your care wishes are expressed in writing.

Do care choices need to be in writing?

No. You can express your care wishes to your substitute decision-maker any way you like. It can be done face to face or with a recording device such as an audiotape or videotape, or in any written form, including Braille or Bliss Board.

However, in order to name someone as your substitute decision-maker, you must appoint them in writing through a Power of Attorney for Personal Care. How to do this is explained later in this guide.

What happens if changes are made to advance care choices?

You can always change your mind about your care wishes. But be sure to tell your substitute decisionmaker that your wishes have changed.You can do this face-to-face or any other way you choose.

Your decision-maker is obligated to follow your last known capable wishes no matter how you expressed them. However, if you have given any previous instructions about your personal care in writing or on audiotape or videotape, you may want to revise them and add the new date