Advance Care Planning is a process of planning for future health and personal care whereby the person’s values, beliefs and preferences are made known so they can guide decision making at a future time when the person can no longer communicate their decisions.
Advanced Care Planning can involve paperwork as summarised below however, it is important to discuss these values, beliefs and preferences with those closest to you.
In Queensland the following documents can assist you to record your wishes for your future healthcare:
- Advance Health Directive
- Enduring Power of Attorney
- Statement of Choices
These documents can then be “uploaded” to the Office of Advance Care Planning which can be accessed by health professionals.
Further information is available at www.mycaremychoices.com.au
Office of Advance Care Planning
PO Box 2274, Runcorn Qld 4113
Phone: 1300 007 227
Fax: 1300 008 227
Email: acp@health.qld.gov.au
An Advance Health Directive allows you to document your wishes or directions regarding your future health care for various medical conditions. It comes into effect only if you are unable to make your own decisions. You may wish your directive to apply at any time when you are unable to decide for yourself, or you may want it to apply only if you are terminally ill. Many people complete this form with their doctor who can assist to clarify any medical terminology. It is a legal document and must be witnessed by a doctor AND either a JP, Commissioner of Declarations, lawyer or a Notary Public.
Download an Advance Health Directive Here
An Enduring Power of Attorney form allows you to nominate someone to make decisions on your behalf in regards to your health and finances. Depending on how you complete the form this can occur immediately, upon a certain date or if you lose capacity (you no longer able to make decisions for yourself). It is a legal document and must be witnessed by either a JP, Commissioner of Declarations, lawyer or a Notary Public.
Download an Enduring Power of Attorney SHORT Form Here
The EPOA Short Form allows you to appoint someone you trust (an ‘attorney’) to make decisions for your during your lifetime and continues if you lose capacity to make decisions yourself. Use this form to appoint:
- Attorney(s) for personal (including health) matters only
- Attorney(s) for financial matters only
- The same attorney(s) for both personal (including health) matters and financial matters.
This form is approved for use from 30 November 2020.
Download an Enduring Power of Attorney LONG Form Here
The EPOA LONG form allows you to appoint someone you trust (an ‘attorney’) to make decisions for you and continues if you lose capacity to make decisions yourself. Use this form to appoint different attorneys for person (including health) matters and for financial matters.
This form is approved for use from 30 November 2020.
The Statement of Choices is a values-based document that records a person’s wishes and choices for their health care into the future. Although the Statement of Choices is not included in Queensland legislation, the content can still have guiding effect by assisting substitute decision-makers and clinicians if a person is unable to communicate their choices. Form A is used by people who can make health care decisions for themselves.
Download A Statement of Choices Form Here
Little Haven Social Workers are available to assist with any questions you may have around Advance Care Planning
