Express your health and care wishes

Step 4: Express your health and care wishes

Like Step 3, this step focuses on lifestyle and healthcare decisions, rather than financial ones. The issues discussed in both these steps are commonly referred to as ‘advance care planning’.

What is advance care planning?

This is the process of thinking about and communicating your values, beliefs and preferences so that these can guide decision-making if you cannot make decisions for yourself at some time in the future. In this case, someone else has to act as your substitute decision-maker. This may happen if you have a sudden illness or gradually lose capacity from an illness such as dementia.

Worksheet 1.4: general statement about values, wishes and preferences

Complete the worksheet by downloading a blank copy and filling it in.

Worksheet 1.5: advance care directions about specific treatments

Complete the worksheet by downloading a blank copy and filling it in.


Levels of formality

Attitudes to advance care planning

Guidelines for completing advance care planning worksheets