What is an Advance Care Plan?

An Advance Care Plan helps you share what matters most to you about your health care. It is a set of legal documents that tells your family, friends, and care team how you want to be cared for if you cannot speak for yourself due to illness or injury. Every adult—no matter your age or health—can benefit from having a plan in place.

Why do I need an Advance Care Plan?

If you don’t have a plan, your loved ones and medical care team may have to make decisions for you. They may not know what you would want, which can be stressful and emotional for them. By planning ahead, you give them peace of mind, knowing they are honoring your wishes. It’s best to create your plan before you need it. Life can be unpredictable, and being prepared helps ensure you receive the care you want.

What is included in an Advance Care Plan?

An Advance Care Plan often includes:

  • Advance Directive: A legal document where you write down your health care wishes. This can include a living will, which explains the types of care you would or would not want.
  • Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare: A legal document where you choose someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you cannot. This person is called your health care proxy. Having a proxy is especially helpful in unexpected situations, like a serious accident.

How to Create an Advance Care Plan

It’s easy to create an Advance Care Plan either online or by using a paper form. Both options are available through a FREE online resource: Prepare for Your Care. This website walks you through the steps to complete your Advance Care Plan and includes helpful tips to help you decide what’s best for you.

You may also download a free Advance Care Directive form from the California Hospital Association (in both English and Spanish versions).

For John Muir Health patients: what to do with your Advance Care Plan

Once you have your plan, it’s important that a signed copy is entered into your health record. Please do one of the following:

  1. Mail a signed copy to:
    John Muir Health
    Health Information Management
    5003 Commercial Circle
    Concord CA 94520

  2. Email a signed copy to him@johnmuirhealth.com

  3. Upload a signed copy to MyChart:
    • Log into your MyChart account
    • From the Home screen, click on the box in the top left corner with three horizontal lines
    • Scroll down to “End of Life Planning” and click
    • In the middle of the screen, click on “Add a Document”
    • Select your Advance Care Plan document(s) from your files

Other Resources

We offer free Advance Care Planning classes quarterly. In this one-hour class, we will explain the documents that make up an Advance Care Plan. Sign up here or call (925) 988-7565 or email ClassReg@johnmuirhealth.com