Advance care planning
An advance care plan provides information to others about your wishes in case illness or injury prevents you from telling them yourself.
Advance care planning is designed to help anyone, healthy or sick, communicate their wishes for medical treatment. This planning process will clarify what your family and friends need to know if you become unable to make health care decisions for yourself.
Advance care planning is a process to:
- Understand your health care treatment options.
- Clarify your health care goals.
- Weigh your options about what kind of care and treatment you would want or not want.
- Make decisions about whether you want to appoint a health care agent or complete a health care directive.
- Communicate your wishes and any documents with your family, friends and health care provider.
When you put these wishes in writing, this kind of plan is called a health care directive.
Health care directive online option
Fill out your health care directive in your secure online account.
Detail your wishes or simply name someone to speak on your behalf when you cannot.
Health care directive paper option
Print out and fill in the paper form:
Minnesota residents:
When you print the PDF, please print it one-sided. This document will be scanned into your electronic health record.
After you print the PDF and fill it out, have it signed by two witnesses or have it notarized by a notary public. Then give copies to your health care provider and health care agent(s).
Learn more about health care directives.
Advance care planning reference guides
These guides will help you and your loved ones plan for the future.
Advance care planning discussion guide
CPR and advance care planning: What you need to know
Advance care planning videos
Watch some short videos that explain advance care planning and related topics.
Advance care planning: Make your health care wishes known
Make sure your family and health care providers know your goals and values for future health care needs in case illness or injury prevents you from telling them yourself.