Planning ahead: Advance care planning resources
Advance care planning is not about giving up or expecting the worst. It is about making sure your voice, values, and wishes are understood if there ever comes a time when you cannot speak for yourself. These conversations are valuable for every adult—not just people who are elderly or seriously ill. Planning ahead can give you peace of mind and help the people you love feel more confident making decisions on your behalf.
Why advance care planning matters for everyone
This page is for adults of all ages who want to better understand and communicate their healthcare wishes before a crisis occurs. It is also designed to support families, caregivers, and loved ones who may someday be asked to make healthcare decisions for someone else. The goal is to make advance care planning feel approachable, understandable, and empowering—not frightening or overwhelming. You do not need to be elderly, seriously ill, or nearing end of life to begin planning ahead.
What does advance care planning include?
- Choosing a healthcare decision-maker — Who would speak for you if you couldn’t speak for yourself?
- Advance directives — Written instructions that help communicate your healthcare wishes.
- Living wills — Guidance about the kinds of medical treatments you would or would not want in certain situations.
- DNR decisions — Understanding what CPR involves and when a DNR order may be appropriate.
- Your values and priorities — What does quality of life mean to you? What matters most if your health changes?
- Talking with the people you love — Documents matter, but conversations matter too.
Take the first step towards peace of mind
After visiting this page, I hope you feel empowered and reassured that planning ahead does not have to be frightening or complicated. Most importantly, I want you to take one small step—start a conversation with someone you trust, think about what matters most to you, choose who you would want to speak for you, or begin documenting your wishes. The goal is not to have every answer today. It is simply to begin.
Not sure where to begin?
You don’t have to figure everything out today.
The Simple Advance Care Planning Guide walks you through the questions that matter—your values, who you trust to speak for you, what comfort means to you, and the conversations you may want to have with the people you love.
Further support and guidance
Navigating healthcare decisions can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to do it alone. As a licensed nursing assistant and certified death doula, Sarah Gallant provides compassionate, easy-to-understand education on advance care planning, dementia, hospice, and end-of-life care. Explore additional resources and support available on this site or reach out to learn more about how I can help you and your loved ones.