An Advance Care Plan, sometimes shortened to ACP, is a written and shared record of your wishes and decisions about your future end of life care. This is so they can be known (and acted upon) if you cannot say them yourself.
It can include any of the following three documents:
- An Advance Statement. More information can be found here
- A Decision to Refuse Treatment. More information can be found here
- A Lasting Power of Attorney (for health and care decisions). More information can be found here
Any or all of these areas above can be included in an Advance Care Plan
What else can advance care plans include?
Sometimes Advance Care Plans can include:
- Do Not Attempt Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR): a decision to not restart your heart if it should stop. The decision to not restart your heart is made because it is anticipated to be unsuccessful or not what you want.
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- Best Interests: The decision making process for care decisions on your behalf if you are unable to contribute to the decision making process yourself. Advance care planning activity such as Advance Statements, Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (ADRT’s) and Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA’s) are very helpful in understanding what your wishes might be if you cannot say so yourself.
For more information visit here
- Last Will and Testament: Lets you decide what happens to your money, property and possessions after your death. If you make a will you can also make sure you don’t pay more Inheritance Tax than you need to. You can write your will yourself, but you should get advice if your will isn’t straightforward. You need to get your will formally witnessed and signed to make it legally valid. If you want to update your will, you need to make an official alteration (called a ‘codicil’) or make a new will. For more information visit here
