What is Life Care Planning?
Life Care Planning allows someone to make decisions now about future health care situations, in the event the individual becomes incapacitated. All states have laws that allow us to make future health care treatment decisions now so that if we become incapacitated and unable to make these decisions later, our family and doctors will know what medical care we want or do not want. In Arizona, you are allowed to appoint a representative to make future health care treatment decisions for us if we become incapacitated, since we cannot predict what future decision might be necessary. These laws are called, "advance directives" or "health care directives." Because these laws are somewhat different from state to state, the federal Medicare/Medicaid agency suggests that citizens contact the Attorney Generals Office about the law of Arizona; in Arizona these are called "health care directives."
Most people communicate their health care directives by completing forms, such as the Life Care Planning forms, that are tailored to prompt decisions about treatment choices that might be needed. Before you complete these or other health care forms, you should learn and think about what medical treatments you want and/or do not want in the future. Discuss your choices with your family, loved ones, physician, clergy person, etc. Also consider who you want to appoint to make treatment decisions for you if you become incapacitated. Although you cannot anticipate all the medical situations that might arise, you can give guidance to your decision-maker, doctor, and family as to your values and choices, so they can respect your wishes if a time comes when you cannot make or express decisions for yourself.
Resources
Life Care Planning Packet Materials
Arizona Attorney General - Life Care Planning Information