Advance Care Planning: It’s Always Too Early Until It’s Too Late

Every year in honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, we spread awareness about the importance of advance care planning.

Advance care planning means documenting your healthcare preferences in case you can't speak for yourself during a medical crisis. Regardless of your age or health, consider discussing your options with loved ones and healthcare providers as April 16 approaches. While it may feel uncomfortable, planning ahead eases the burden on your family and allows for a more peaceful end of life.

Our Advance Care Planning Council and Hospice team urge you to talk with your friends, family, and patients about advance directives and medical power of attorney. Completing these documents clarifies your wishes and helps your loved ones know how you want to be treated.

• ⁠Virginia Advance Health Directives downloadable forms
• Prepare for your Care.org

These additional resources may also provide direction as you take on these difficult conversations, or they can help guide patients to talk with their loved ones:

• Advance care planning informational page on CarilionClinic.org/ACP
• Advance care planning resources on Hospice's page on CarilionClinic.org/hospice
• Free guides and workbooks to help you have conversations about advance care planning on The Conversation Project
• An interactive way to have difficult conversations about advance care planning on the website Death Over Dinner 

National Healthcare Decisions Day is dedicated to helping you understand and assert your healthcare preferences. Whether you’re planning for yourself, or a loved one, or helping a patient, this is an opportunity to learn about advance directives, gather resources, and ask questions in a supportive environment. 

For more information or questions related to advance care planning, email Carilion_Advance_Care_Planning@carilionclinic.org.