Palliative Care - Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning is for all adults age 18 and over. It is a process that guides you to thoughtfully reflect on your personal values and what is most important to you. It helps you decide what type of care you would want if you were in an accident or had a serious illness and were unable to communicate for yourself. Ideally this is completed while you are well and not in a crisis.
What to Consider
Advance care planning is a deeply personal process and involves thinking and deciding about things that can be difficult to consider.
- Think About: What matters most to you, reflect on your personal values and goals.
- Talk About: Your values, goals and preferences with family, friends.
- Consider: Who you would want to represent you and make decisions for you if you are unable to communicate for yourself. This person would be your healthcare agent.
- Put it in Writing: Complete an advance directive that includes a durable power of attorney for healthcare, a healthcare directive and documentation of your values and wishes.
- Share: Share your advance directive with family, friends, your healthcare agent and your medical providers.
Advance care planning is a key component of Overlake’s patient-focused approach to care. We understand that life can be unpredictable and we want to help ensure that your wishes regarding the type and extent of medical treatment you receive are honored.
Make a Plan
Overlake provides multiple options to assist you with your advance care planning:
- Through individual meetings with a trained facilitator at our Primary Care - Downtown Bellevue or Hospital Campus clinics, the Cancer Center or at the Senior Health Clinic. For an individual facilitated conversation, please request a referral from your Overlake healthcare provider.
- By participating in a group workshop that will guide you through the advance directive document while hearing from and sharing with other participants. To register for a group advance care planning workshop, please visit our classes and events.
- For those with serious or chronic illness, a consultation with our palliative care team. You can request a referral from your Overlake healthcare provider
All of these options focus on exploring your experiences, your definition of “living well”, what to consider in choosing a healthcare agent, and the medical decisions that need to be made in the event of a serious sudden illness or accident.
