Advance care planning allows you to prepare for future medical decision-making and communicate your values, goals and preferences for that care. Research studies have shown that people who have an advanced care plan have greater satisfaction with their care and are more likely to receive medical care aligned with their wishes.

 

However, many older adults living on Cape Cod—including those with serious illness—do not have an advance care plan. For many older adults, the process of creating a plan can be intimidating and confusing: selecting a health care proxy, filling out legal forms, financial decisions, estate planning, funeral and burial arrangements, and having a conversation with family and loved ones.