Why is Advance Care Planning Important?

When it comes to health care issues, most of us are used to making our own decisions regarding medical treatments we want or don’t want. Unfortunately, a serious illness or injury can suddenly make it impossible for us to communicate our wishes, and leave our health care providers and loved ones guessing.

Advance Care Planning can help us avoid putting this unnecessary burden on our loved ones and allows us to maintain some control over the care we receive. It allows healthcare providers and families to feel confident that medical decisions are based on your desired goals, even when you can’t speak in that moment.

Advance care planning involves learning about the types of decisions that might need to be made, considering those decisions ahead of time, and then letting others know—both your family and your health care providers—about your preferences.

The Conversation Project created this helpful guide to help you start thinking about your wishes for future care and how to share them so you can have a say in your health care – today and tomorrow.

Watch this ABC News clip about The Conversation Project and discussing end of life decisions.

Next: Key Aspects of Advance Care Planning>>