What does planning involve?
To plan ahead and take control over future decisions that affect you:
- think about what’s important to you; what would matter to you in the future? It may be living close to family, being independent in the way you live, staying in the community you grew up in, or being able to continue practising your culture or faith
- talk about your wishes with family and people you trust so they know what you would want
- choose who should speak for you if you can’t do so in the future. (This person is called an attorney, although legal training isn’t required to take on this role.)
- write down your choices on an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) form. If you want to specifically record your health care wishes, you may also consider completing an Advance Health Directive (AHD) form.
- share copies of these documents
-with your attorney(s), family, your doctor and anyone who would need to know your plans.
Talking with your loved ones about what you would want in the future and completing an EPA and/or an AHD form means you can be more certain about how the future will unfold.
