My Mother made it very clear to me that when “the time comes” she wants to be tucked up in bed with a cup of tea and die in her own home. Unfortunately, due to her dementia and other health factors this was not possible. Making an Advance Care Directive is one way of planning for your future care, should there come a time when you are unable to make decisions about your medical treatment. An Advance Care Directive is a legal document and health practitioners must follow your instructions.
An Advance Care Directive is a legal document in which you can, record your values and preferences for your medical treatment (a values directive) and make legally binding statements directed to your health practitioners, in which you consent to, or refuse, specific future medical treatment (an instructional directive).
An Advance Care Directive is used when you have lost your capacity to consent to or refuse medical treatment. It takes the decision-making pressure off your family and loved ones at a very emotional time. It means your ‘end of life’ treatments must be followed and you can have confidence that your decisions about medical treatment will be respected.
