Advance Care Planning (ACP)

Advance care planning gives a person the opportunity to think about, discuss and record their preferences for the type of care they would like to receive and the outcomes they would consider acceptable. Advance care planning helps people ensure loved ones and health providers know what matters most to them and respect their treatment preferences.

Ideally, advance care planning will result in health care preferences being documented in a plan known as an advance care directive and the appointment of a substitute decision-maker to help ensure their preferences are respected.

Encourage patients to have conversations with their family, carers and other health professionals involved in their care, to make them aware of their wishes and the existence of an Advance Care Directive, if there is one. This will help avoid future misunderstandings or family disagreements. A copy of the patients’ Advance Care Directive should be included in medical files and be available to accompany patients across healthcare settings.^[1]

For documents and resources refer to Advance Care Planning Australia https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/