LeadingAge New York Adviser Winter Vol. 1 | Page 46

Reinventing Family
Traditions: Talking About
Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is the process of thinking about, talking about and planning for
future health care – including end of life care. Advance care planning gives everyone
a chance to say what’s important to them. It helps people understand what the future
might hold and to say what treatment they would or would not want. It helps people,
their families and their healthcare teams plan for the future. This makes it much easier for
families to know what the person would want – particularly if they can no longer speak
for themselves.
Advance care planning is not just about old age. At any age, a medical crisis could leave
someone too ill to make his or her own healthcare decisions. Even if you are not sick now,
making healthcare plans for the future is an important step toward making s ure you get
the medical care you would want, even when doctors and family members are making the
decisions for you. The more thoroughly you communicate, the easier it will be for everyone
to respect your wishes.

(Continued on page 46)

45

Adviser a publication of LeadingAge New York | Winter 2015