Advance Care Planning
If you were to become seriously unwell from a sudden illness or from an illness that is progressive and life-limiting, what would you want your loved ones and your healthcare professionals to know so they can deliver the care that you want?
Advance Care Planning is a voluntary process of thinking and planning your health and care needs as they are now, but also to think about and plan what you want in the future. Not everyone will choose to have a conversation like this and that is fine, but talking about your wishes and planning ahead means you can make sure what is important to you is known by the people who care about you. They can also help you to make decisions about concerns or practical issues.
Four questions that can be helpful in beginning the process or discussions are:
- When you think about your condition or health, how are you feeling about what has been happening to you?
- Have you had any thoughts about your care, such as what you would like or not like to happen in the future?
- Have you named anyone else who you would like to become involved if it gets difficult for you to make a decision?
- If you were to become more ill, what sort of treatment would you like, or importantly, not like?
The main outcomes of this process can be:
A completed ReSPECT form
A ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) form is part of a process designed to create personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care in emergencies where they may be unable to communicate their wishes
A verbal or written advance care plan
A verbal or written advance care plan (ACP) is a way to record and share your wishes and preferences regarding future care and support, including medical treatment. A ReSPECT form is a version of a ACP but you can use other versions if you need/want
A written ‘Advanced decision to refuse treatment’ (ADRT)
An ADRT is a legal document that outlines your wishes to refuse specific medical treatments, in specific circumstances, in the future if you become unable to communicate those decisions. It is also known as a ‘living will’.
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) document
A lasting power of attorney is a legal document that allows a person (the donor) to appoint one or more individuals (attorneys) to make decisions on their behalf if they are unable to do so due to mental incapacity. There are two types of LPA: one for Health & Wellbeing and one for Property & Finance.
Further information can be found below. If you can't access the links. please speak with a trusted adult
- ReSPECT | Resuscitation Council UK - The ReSPECT process creates personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care and treatment in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices.
- advance-care-planning-quick-guide.pdf - Advance care planning offers people the opportunity to plan their future care and support, including medical treatment, while they have the capacity to do so.
- Where to start - Lasting power of attorney - Your Voice,Your Decision - A lasting power of attorney, or LPA, is helpful for everyone over the age of 18. A partner or close family member cannot make many decisions on your behalf without legal authority.