What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning is a helpful way for people of all ages to prepare for the future. Both healthy people and people with health conditions do Advance Care planning. Visit the MyCare PDF for an Advance Care Planning overview.

Advance Care Planning is:

• Making decisions now about the types of health care you would and would not want to receive if you become very sick or injured and couldn’t speak for yourself in the future.

• Choosing a person you want to make health care decisions for you if you’re unable to do so for yourself. This person is called a health care agent and agrees to follow your health care decisions.

• Talking with your doctors and loved ones about the types of health care you want to receive so they’ll respect and honor your values and health care goals.

• Writing down your health care goals in your own Advance Directive. In South Santa Barbara County, we utilize the MyCare document. This form guides your health care providers as to what types of health care you want. It also helps your loved ones understand your wishes in case they have to make health care decisions for you.