An advance Statement lets you make general statements, describing your wishes and preferences about future care, should you be unable to make or communicate a decision or express your preferences at the time.

You may want it to reflect religious or other beliefs and important aspects of your life. It is helpful to write this information down, so people can refer to it if they want to know what you like and what is important to you. It is not a legal document.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Health and Welfare: A legal document that empowers you to appoint a trusted individual, known as an ‘attorney’, to make crucial healthcare and personal care decisions on your behalf when you are unable to due to illness, incapacity or any other reason.

When creating a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for Health and care Welfare, let your chosen attorney(s) know if you have an advance statement. This alerts them to what you would want to happen, if they need to make decisions on your behalf.

It only comes into force if you are unable to make your own decisions.

Lasting Power of Attorney for Property and Finances: Gives your attorney the power to make decisions about your property and financial matters. This may include managing your bank or building society accounts,paying bills, collecting your pension or benefits or, selling your home.

Once registered with the Office of the Public Guardian, it can be used immediately or held in readiness until required.

Why Are Advance Directives Important?

Advance directives are essential for several reasons:

Preserve Autonomy: They allow you to maintain control over your healthcare decisions, even when you cannot communicate your wishes.

Relieve Burden: Advance directives ease the decision-making burden on your loved ones, ensuring that they are aware of your preferences and can respect your choices.

Ensure Quality of Life: They enable you to outline your expectations for medical treatment and interventions, promoting a higher quality of life aligned with your values.

Reduce Conflicts: Advance directives can reduce potential conflicts among family members and healthcare providers by providing clear guidance.

Creating Advance Directives

Creating advance directives is a straightforward process:

Consider Your Values: Think about your healthcare preferences, values, and goals, especially in challenging medical situations.

Consult with Loved Ones: Discuss your wishes with your family and healthcare proxy to ensure they understand and support your decisions.

Complete the Documents: Work with legal professionals to create and formalise your advance directives. These documents must comply with your state's laws.

Distribute Copies: Provide copies of your advance directives to your healthcare providers, family members, and your chosen healthcare proxy.

Review and Update: Periodically review and update your advance directives to ensure they reflect your current preferences and circumstances.