Making an advance care plan

What to consider before you make a plan

Planning your future health care can be difficult because most of us don’t know what our future health care needs may be.

Knowing what’s important to you can make some of those decisions easier, so before you start planning think about:

• your current health
• your values, beliefs and preferences
• the type of care and treatment you would or wouldn’t want
• any directions you want people to follow
• who you can trust to speak for you, if you’re unable.

When you feel ready, you can take the following steps.

Step 1 – Discuss the future health care you want

Talk about your future health care with your family or other important people in your life.

Your partner, family and friends

It's easier for people to support your future health care when they know what you do and don't want. The end of life care discussion starters from Palliative Care Australia can help you start conversations with your partner, family and friends.

People you want to decide about your care (attorneys)

If you're appointing an attorney, make sure they understand their role and the type of decisions they may have to make.

Attorneys aren't legal professionals, they're substitute decision-makers who can decide about your care. Learn more about their role on the Advance Care Planning Australia website.

Your GP and other health professionals

If you have a medical condition or health needs, talk to your GP or medical team about your future health, care options, and medical treatments. They'll help you make informed choices. A doctor or nurse practitioner must check you understand your choices before they sign your advance health directive or statement of choices.

Step 2 - Record your care preferences

If you live in Queensland, use the following documents to record your future health care choices.

Step 3 – Share your advance care planning documents

Make sure the right people know about your advance care plan, and where to find it.

Keep your original documents.

Give copies of your documents to anyone who may need to be involved in your future health care, including:

• attorneys
• family and friends
• your GP, health professionals or caregivers.

Send a copy to the Queensland Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning

Send a copy of your documents to the Statewide Office of Advance Care Planning.

You can send these by:

• email: acp@health.qld.gov.au
• fax: 1300 008 227
• post: PO Box 2274, Runcorn QLD 4113.

They'll check the documents are complete, using checklists and criteria, and upload them to your secure Queensland Health electronic hospital record (The Viewer).

The checklists and criteria align with administrative needs and requirements in the Powers of Attorney Act 1998.

Step 4 – Review your advance care planning documents

Review your advance care planning documents often, to make sure they're up to date with your current values and circumstances.

You may need to do this when:

• your health, personal or living situation changes
• your preferences change
• you want to change or appoint new attorneys.

You can change or cancel documents at any time, as long as you still have the capacity to make decisions.

Learn how to change or cancel your documents.