Advance care planning ensures your healthcare wishes are known and respected if you are ever unable to speak for yourself. It is valuable at any age, not just for those who are seriously ill.

Advance care planning is the process of thinking through, discussing, and documenting your wishes for medical care in case you are ever unable to make or communicate decisions yourself, due to a serious illness, injury, or medical emergency. While often associated with older adults or those with serious illness, unexpected medical events can happen at any age, making advance care planning valuable for all adults.

This process involves both a legal and a personal component: designating someone to make decisions on your behalf if needed, and communicating your values and preferences so that person — and your medical team — can act in accordance with your wishes.

Key Documents in Advance Care Planning

A healthcare power of attorney (sometimes called a healthcare proxy or durable power of attorney for healthcare) designates a specific person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself. Choosing someone who understands your values and is willing to advocate for your wishes, even under difficult circumstances, matters more than simply choosing the closest family member by default.

An advance directive (sometimes called a living will) documents your preferences for specific types of medical treatment, such as resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition, particularly in situations where recovery is unlikely. For those with serious, advanced illness, a POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form translates these wishes into actionable medical orders that follow you across care settings.

Having the Conversation

Talking with your chosen healthcare agent about your values and wishes — not just filling out paperwork — is the most important part of the process, since documents cannot anticipate every possible medical scenario, but a person who deeply understands your values can make reasonable decisions when specific situations arise. Consider discussing what matters most to you: is prolonging life the top priority, or is quality of life and comfort more important in certain circumstances?

These conversations can feel difficult to initiate, but most people report relief after having them, along with a sense that their family is better prepared. Revisiting the conversation periodically, especially after a significant health change or major life event, keeps your plan current and meaningful.

How These Documents Are Used

Advance directives and healthcare power of attorney documents become relevant specifically when you are unable to make or communicate your own decisions — they do not take away your ability to make your own decisions while you are able to do so. Give copies to your healthcare agent, your primary care doctor, and keep a copy easily accessible at home; many electronic health record systems can also store these documents for easy access by any treating clinician.

In an emergency, having these documents readily available — rather than only in a safe deposit box or with an attorney — makes a meaningful difference in ensuring your wishes are known and followed promptly.

Updating Your Plan Over Time

Advance care planning is not a one-time task — revisit your documents periodically, particularly after a new diagnosis, a significant change in health status, or a major life event such as divorce or the death of your chosen healthcare agent. Wishes and values can genuinely change over time, and your documents should reflect your current thinking, not a decision made years ago under different circumstances.

Your primary care doctor can help facilitate these conversations and update your documentation as part of routine care, and many find it helpful to revisit advance care planning at annual wellness visits, similar to other routine preventive health tasks.

Advance Care Planning Checklist

Choose a healthcare agent who understands and will advocate for your values
Complete a healthcare power of attorney document
Consider completing an advance directive describing your treatment preferences
Discuss your values and wishes directly with your chosen healthcare agent
Give copies of your documents to your agent and your primary care doctor
Keep documents easily accessible, not only in a safe deposit box
Revisit and update your plan after major health or life changes

When to Contact a Clinician

Bring up advance care planning at your next primary care visit if you do not currently have a healthcare power of attorney or advance directive in place. Revisit your existing documents with your doctor after any significant diagnosis or major life change.

Questions to Ask at a Medical Visit

What advance care planning documents are recognized in California, and how do I complete them?
Would a POLST form be appropriate for my current health situation?
How do I make sure my documents are accessible to any treating clinician in an emergency?
Can you help facilitate a conversation with my family about my wishes?
How often should I revisit and update my advance care planning documents?
What is the difference between a healthcare power of attorney and an advance directive?

Main Takeaway

Advance care planning ensures your healthcare wishes are known and respected if you are ever unable to speak for yourself, and it is valuable for adults of all ages and health statuses. Choosing a healthcare agent, discussing your values directly with them, and keeping documents accessible matters as much as the paperwork itself.

References and Further Reading

National Institute on Aging — Advance care planning: healthcare directives
American Bar Association — Healthcare power of attorney and advance directives
National POLST — POLST form overview and appropriate use
American Academy of Family Physicians — Facilitating advance care planning conversations

Advance Care Planning: Making Your Healthcare Wishes Known