About Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is an important part of routine healthcare for all adults, no matter how old you are or what medical conditions you have (if any). It’s an ongoing process of thinking and talking about what type of treatment you would want if a sudden illness or injury left you unable to speak for yourself. Knowing your wishes ahead of time is a great gift for your loved ones and can relieve some of the stress they will feel if asked to make decisions for you.
Part of this planning involves choosing a person you trust to make decisions for you. This person is called a healthcare agent. It’s important to involve your healthcare team, your healthcare agent and your loved ones in the conversation to make sure they understand your wishes. It is also important to write down your choices, which can be done using an advance directive.
What is an Advance Directive?
An advance directive is a written record of your medical choices. In North Carolina, an advance directive includes three forms: a healthcare power of attorney, a living will and advance instruction for mental health treatment. In South Carolina, an advance directive includes two forms: a healthcare power of attorney and a living will.
A healthcare power of attorney is a legal form in which you choose another person, called a healthcare agent, to be in charge of your care when you’re not able to make decisions for yourself.
A living will, also known as a declaration of a desire for a natural death, is a legal form that lets you express your wishes about having a natural death by choosing not to receive life-prolonging measures if you:
Have an incurable or irreversible condition that wi
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