Advance Care Planning
Advance Care Planning is a process that ensures family and treating healthcare teams understand what is important to you and how you want to be treated if you become unable to make decisions or communicate your wishes.
What we do
We provide education, tools, and assistance to anyone who wishes so complete an Advance Care Directive.
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance Care Planning can include:
- Appointing someone – Think about who you trust to make medical decision on your behalf if you were unable to. You can complete a legal form to appoint this person as your Medical Treatment Decision Maker
- Chatting and communicating – Talk to family, friends and doctors about what is important to you. Discuss your values, preferences and what you would find unacceptable in relation to your health
- Putting it on paper – You can write down your values, preferences and what is important to you in an Advance Care Directive
How can the Advance Care Planning Service help?
You can make an appointment with the Advance Care Planning Service to assist with:
- appointing a Medical Treatment and Decision Maker
- having a conversation about your values, preferences and what you would find acceptable in relation to your health
- writing down your values and preferences in an Advance Care Directive
- distributing copies of your advance care planning documents to key health providers and decision makers, for example Alfred Health, your GP, Medical Treatment Decision Maker and family
The Advance Care Planning Service can also send you an information pack if you wish to start completing the process yourself.
Alternatively, you can download a copy of the Advance Care Directive and Medical Treatment Decision Maker forms:
- Advance Care Directive for adults
- Instructions for completing the Advance Care Directive for adults
- Medical Treatment Decision Maker form
- Checklist of steps for appointing your Medical Treatment Decision Maker
Community information sessions
Advance Care Planning community information sessions are scheduled multiple times throughout the year. These sessions provide an overview of Advance Care Planning in a group setting.
Bookings are essential. Find out more about our community information sessions.
Who we care for
Anyone can make an advance care directive. However, it is of particular importance to those who have a chronic health condition or are regularly admitted to hospital. It is ideal to undertake advance care planning when your health is stable.
Advance Care Planning outpatient appointments can be arranged at Caulfield Hospital. Outpatient appointment times are flexible during office hours Monday to Friday and appointments are attended by Advance Care Planning clinicians. To access this service, ring Caulfield Hospital (260 Kooyong Rd, Caulfield) on 90766000
There is no cost involved.
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