Aspire in Advance

Understanding Advance Care Planning

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Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a series of discussions for one to plan and write down in words their future health and personal care preferences. It encompasses sharing one’s personal values and beliefs, exploring what they might or might not want in specific medical conditions, and choosing someone to voice their wishes if they can no longer do so. It reduces uncertainty, guilt and burden for caregivers and family members who are caring for them during various medical situations.

• Fei Yue Community Services offers ACP that covers four areas, namely:

• Treatment choices if the medical team determines there is little chance of recovery and the person has lost mental capacity.

• Long-term care planning if they are unable to care for themselves due to disability.

• Palliative care preferences when facing the last 12 months of life.

WHO SHOULD CONSIDER MAKING AN ACP?

Everyone above age 21 is invited to make an ACP. As long as you are healthy and able to make decisions for yourself, start your planning today and write down your healthcare preferences to guide your loved ones.

ACP VS LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY OR LIVING WILL

A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document in which the applicant (the “donor”) appoints trusted family members or other individuals (the “donees”) to act on their behalf, should the donor lose mental capacity. The scope of LPA includes allowing donees to make decisions on the donor’s property and financial affairs, as well as to authorise or continue the donor’s medical treatment.

On the other hand, an ACP describes how the donor wishes to be cared for and can be used to inform family members about their treatment preferences. For example, ACP facilitators have observed clients creating alternative care plans to prevent their caregivers from putting their lives on hold and to reduce caregiver burnout.