End of life planning vs. advance care planning: cancer estate planning
August is National Make-A-Will Month, and in recognition of this important awareness month, Outcomes4Me is sharing related, helpful resources with our patient members.
Advance care planning is important for everyone, but becomes even more important when facing a serious illness such as cancer. At its core, advance care planning involves thinking about, communicating, and documenting your care wishes while also designating someone you trust who can communicate and follow through on your wishes if at some point you can’t speak on your own behalf.
Especially when you’re navigating a serious health condition such as cancer, it’s important to remember that thinking about and discussing your wishes for care as well as expressing your expectations around your quality of life won’t send any negative vibes into the universe or suggest that you can no longer manage your illness. Instead, being thoughtful and planning ahead on these topics ensures you’re approaching your treatment in a way that reflects your own core values about how you want to live your life at all stages.
Advance care planning isn’t only about the end of life. You don’t need to have a serious illness or a terminal diagnosis to document your wishes. Any series of events in life could prevent you from being able to verbalize your healthcare wishes–for any period of time–and it’s important that you have thought about and communicated what type of care or treatment you want (or don’t want) to receive, and who should serve as your proxy in those moments.
Advance care planning might seem like a significant task to take on–especially when you have so many other responsibilities and priorities, particularly as you navigate your cancer.
There are many state-specific resources available online. Tip: Google “[Your State]” + “advance care planning” and you should see a variety of online planning guides. The healthcare facility where you receive your treatment may also have specific guidance and support.
You can also use an online resource such as Trust & Will, which offers a variety of estate planning services. To coincide with National Make-A-Will Month, Outcomes4Me is pleased to partner with Trust & Will to offer our members a 20% discount on estate planning services. Use this link to receive your 20% discount at checkout.
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