Advance Care Planning: Why Talking About Your Wishes Matters

Most of us plan for birthdays, vacations and retirement. But few people plan for what matters just as much: who will speak for you and what kind of care you’d want if you couldn’t speak for yourself. That’s where advance care planning comes in.

While National Healthcare Decisions Day is recognized each year on April 16, the message behind it matters every day. Advance care planning isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about being prepared, reducing stress for loved ones and making sure your care reflects your values.

What Is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and sharing your wishes for future health care before a crisis happens. It’s not just paperwork. It’s about conversations.

Advance care planning helps you:

• Think about what matters most to you if you became seriously ill or injured
• Choose someone you trust to make medical decisions for you if needed
• Make sure your health care team understands your values and preferences

Unexpected illness or injury can happen at any age. When these conversations happen ahead of time, decisions are clearer and less stressful for everyone involved. Advance care planning is one more way to care for the people you love.

Ways to Take Part in Advance Care Planning

You don’t have to do everything at once. Small steps can make a big difference. 

• Start with yourself. Take a few minutes to reflect on what matters most to you if you were facing a serious illness or injury, and review or update your advance care plans.
• Choose your person. Identify a health care proxy — someone you trust to speak for you if you can’t — and make sure they understand your wishes. Here’s a helpful guide on how to pick a health care proxy.
• Have the conversation. Talk with a family member, friend or loved one about what kind of care you would (or wouldn’t) want.
• Write It Down. Make it official and put your choices and thoughts in writing using a Health Care Proxy form. It’s how we can give those we love the guiding principles they need to confidently make decisions for us.
• Use trusted resources. Visit The Conversation Project for conversation starters and tools, or explore advance care planning resources on our UMass Memorial website for information on health care proxies and advance directives.
• Share and normalize. If you’re comfortable, encourage colleagues or loved ones to start their own conversations — sometimes simply saying “I did this” makes it easier for others to do the same.

Why This Matters for All of Us

Advance care planning isn’t just for older adults or people with health concerns. It’s for anyone who wants a say in their future care and peace of mind today. By having these conversations, we help normalize them for our families and friends