Advance Healthcare Planning

Advancing age is associated with increased morbidity and the need for complex medical decision-making. This process of decision-making becomes even more challenging when it pertains to end-of-life situations. Older adults are vulnerable to illnesses that can result in a loss of decision-making capacity and thereby limit their ability to participate in their healthcare decision-making. However, older adults can make their healthcare wishes and treatment preferences known in advance through a process called advance healthcare planning. Advance health care planning focuses on planning for future healthcare of individuals and to guide their families and healthcare professionals to provide care in accordance with the individual’s values and belief systems in an event that the individual loses their decisional capacity. This chapter reviews information regarding advance healthcare planning including its benefits and limitations.