Advance Care Planning

Planning for the future should be done now, before a crisis or serious illness diagnosis occurs. Every day, people of all ages and their families suffer needlessly because discussions haven’t taken place and wishes go unknown. Advance Care Planning helps you have discussions, make decisions and gather the documents needed for what’s ahead.

Let us help you take care of yourself and your family. Let’s begin the conversation today. Call us at 866.436.9734

North Carolina Advance Directive

An advance directive is a set of directions you give about the medical and mental health care you want if you ever lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. North Carolina offers four ways to make formal advance directive. These include: living wills, MOST form, health care power of attorney and advance instructions for mental health treatment.

What is a Living Will?

In North Carolina, a living will is a legal document that tells others that you want to die a natural death if you: become incurably sick with an irreversible condition that will result in your death within a short period of time; are unconscious and your doctor determines that it is highly unlikely you will regain consciousness or have advanced dementia or a similar condition which results in a substantial cognitive loss and it is highly unlikely the condition can be reversed. In a living will, you direct your doctor not to use certain life-prolonging treatments such as breathing assistance (respirator or ventilator), or to stop giving you food and water through an IV or  feeding tube.

What is a MOST Form?

A MOST (Medical Order for Scope of Treatment) is a medical order followed in different settings such as in the home, nursing home, hospital, etc. A MOST form contains specific instructions for CPR and also addresses other end-of life care. While a MOST form is a medical order that your provider must sign, you or someone who is legally recognized to speak for you must also sign the form.

What is a Healthcare Power of Attorney?

A Healthcare Power of Attorney is a legal document in which you name a person(s) as your health care agent(s) to make medical and mental health decisions for you if you become unable to decide for yourself. This document goes into effect when a physician states in writing that you cannot make or communicate health care choices.

What is An Advance Instruction for Mental Health Treatment?

An advance instruction for mental health treatment is a legal document informing physicians and mental health providers of what mental health treatments you would or would not if you should be unable to decide for yourself. This document can be a stand-alone document or combined with a health care power of attorney.

Questions to Ask

  1. What would happen if you were in a tragic accident and could not make decisions for yourself?
  2. Do you know exactly what your spouse would want if he or she were injured or sick? What about your children?
  3. Have you discussed with your family and doctor specifically how you want to be treated if you are seriously injured or diagnosed with a terminal/life limiting illness?
  4. Do you have a health care power of attorney who is prepared to make decisions regarding your medical treatment?
  5. Do you have a living will?