Module 9 Pull Down Navigation - Select a Page to View ------------------- Introduction What is an Advance Care Plan? Importance of an Advance Care Plan Advance Care Plan Components Getting Started on an Advance Care Plan Questions for Your Doctor or Nurse Discussions with Your Doctor or Nurse Making Care Choices as Heart Failure Progresses What to Do with Your Advance Care Plan Changing Your Mind Care for the Caretakers Terms Commonly Used in Advance Care Planning Learn More About Heart Failure

What to Do with Your Advance Care Plan

Make copies of your living will, do-not-resuscitate order, health care power of attorney, or other directions about medical treatment decisions (even if they are hand written) and give them to your healthcare team. If you need to be treated in a hospital, bring a copy with you. The hospital or your doctor will keep a copy of these documents in your records so that they have access to your wishes should they be needed. If you have a health care power of attorney, give the person or persons you have designated a copy of these documents as well.

You may also wish to carry a card in your wallet which states that you have certain advance care directive documents and include contact information for the people who have copies of the documents.

Once you have prepared an advance care plan, be sure to review and update it every few years to make sure it still describes your wishes and meets current legal requirements.