Advance Care Planning

Advance Care Planning is the process a capable adult follows to identify their goals, values, and beliefs related to their health and care. A person may consider:

• What matters most to me?
• What brings me joy and quality of life?
• What abilities are so critical to my life that I can't imagine living without them?
• Who would make decisions for me in the event that I was not capable of doing so?

Start the Conversation

Once you have thought about how your values, beliefs and wishes would guide your decisions in the event of a health crisis, the first step is to speak with those close to you and your health care providers to make sure they know and understand your wishes and are willing to honour them. Letting your family and friends know about the care you do and do not want in the future will decrease their anxiety and help them if they need to make decisions on your behalf.

Talk to your doctor or nurse practitioner

It is important for you to discuss your questions and wishes with your primary care provider to make sure your planning is based on accurate medical information. Discuss your thoughts and questions with your doctor or nurse practitioner.

Following this conversation, your doctor or nurse practitioner may complete a Medical Order for Scope of Treatment (MOST) to guide other members of your health care team in a medical emergency. 

Make your plan

Once you've thought about it and talked it over, it's time to make your plan. Here are some tools to help you with advance care planning.

BC Ministry of Health: Advance Care Planning
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/seniors/health-safety/advance-care-planning

BC My Voice Booklet https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2013/MyVoice-AdvanceCarePlanningGuide.pdf

It's Your Choice: Personal Planning Tools
http://www.trustee.bc.ca/Documents/adult-guardianship/It's_Your_Choice-Personal_Planning_Tools.pdf

Speak Up Canada
www.advancecareplanning.ca

First Nations Health Authority: Your Care, Your Choices

https://www.fnha.ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/FNHA-Your-Care-Your-Choices-Planning-in-Advance-for-Medical-Care.pdf

Additional Tools for advance care planning

• Advance Care Planning: What Matters in the End - Radio Interview
• Is cardiopulmonary resuscitation right for me? CPR Brochure
• Medical Order for Scope of Treatment MOST Brochure
• Healthlink BC: Should I Receive CPR and Life Support?
• Healthlink BC: Should I have Artificial Hydration and Nutrition?
• BC Centre for Palliative Care: Talking about your illness with loved ones and caregivers

Advance care planning isn't just for seniors. Read 22 year-old Nicole's personal story about her advance care planning experience.

Please note the materials associated with Island Health Advance Care Planning Program has been developed for use within Island Health. 

If you live elsewhere in British Columbia, please consult your local health authority.

If you live in other provinces in Canada or in the United States, please consult your local legal information agencies or government website as the Island Health Advance Directive will not be consistent with laws governing the use of these documents.