Advance Care Planning
Accidents and illness can happen at any age. If you can’t speak for yourself, who will speak for you?
Making your health care wishes known ahead of time to friends and family through advance care planning will help decrease uncertainty in the event that you are unable to communicate.
Have the conversation with your friends and family today about your wishes and then document in a health care directive.
What Is a Health Care Directive?
A Health Care Directive is a written document that informs others about your health care wishes if you are unable to speak for yourself.
By law in Minnesota, health care directives need to meet certain criteria and are legal documents after they are notarized or witnessed.
Before submitting your health care directive, go over this checklist [pdf]. Once you have completed the health care directive:
- Make a copy of the document for your loved ones and a copy for your medical record at CentraCare. Save the original for your records.
- For methods on how to submit your directive to CentraCare, refer to the checklist [pdf].
Have a Question About Advance Care Planning?
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I watched my mom make a difficult decision for my grandma and she needed to decide within seconds. The pain I saw her go through that day was traumatizing to her and I want everyone to know that this is a decision that they should make when they are able to speak for themselves. Having Advance Care Plans in place may help your loved ones grieve more easily and feel less burden, guilt and depression.
— Kelly Lemire, CentraCare – Becker Clinic Manager
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