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Advance healthcare planning is a thoughtful process that allows you to make decisions about the medical care you’d want if you become unable to speak for yourself. It’s about making sure your values, beliefs, and healthcare preferences are clearly understood and honored—by your loved ones and your care team. At End of Life Choices California, we believe advance healthcare planning is a gift—one that brings clarity and peace of mind during life’s most challenging moments.
Advance healthcare planning helps you:
Starting the conversation with loved ones and healthcare providers is crucial.
Ask yourself:
These conversations can be deeply meaningful—and they ensure others know how to support you.
Even if you’re healthy, talking to your physician is key—especially if:
Your doctor can help ensure your preferences are documented and guide care decisions in emergencies.
Every adult should complete an Advance Healthcare Directive. This legal document includes:
Sharing your advance care planning experience can help others take their first step. Tell us:
Advance healthcare planning is a process enabling individuals to make plans about their future healthcare. It applies to adults at all life stages, aiming to reduce stress for patients and families by improving end-of-life care.
Encouraging conversations about end-of-life wishes with loved ones, healthcare providers, and spiritual advisors is crucial. These discussions should focus on treatment preferences and values regarding life’s end. Guidance about starting the conversation.
An Advance Healthcare Directive, comprising a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney, is essential for everyone, allowing you to specify your healthcare wishes if you cannot speak for yourself, and designate someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf. More on advance healthcare directives.
A Living Will lets you outline your desired medical treatment and care types if you’re unable to communicate your decisions. It covers your wishes regarding life-sustaining procedures. Explore Living Wills.
This document designates someone to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your healthcare wishes are respected. Learn about Health Care Proxy.
The Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) documents your end-of-life wishes in a medical order, making them accessible to healthcare providers across settings. Understanding POLST.
An Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order informs emergency medical services of your wish not to receive CPR or other life-saving measures in an emergency. More on DNR orders.
A Living Will for Dementia allows you to specify your medical intervention preferences at various dementia stages, helping loved ones make decisions aligned with your wishes. Unlike an Advance Healthcare Directive, a Living Will for Dementia is not legally binding. Explore dementia provisions.
Advance Care Planning – Offers guidance on healthcare directives for older adults, including how to prepare and discuss plans.
Advance Directives – Provides information on advance directives for individuals with cancer, covering how to create and use these legal documents.
State-by-State Advance Directive Forms – Offers free, printable advance directive forms tailored to the legal requirements of each state, making it easier to prepare these essential documents.
Dedicated to promoting the understanding and use of POLST for those with serious illnesses or frailty towards the end of life, this site provides resources for patients and healthcare providers.
An interactive website that guides individuals through the process of advance care planning, ensuring they are prepared to communicate their wishes effectively.