Advance Planning

As end of life doulas we see first-hand how planning ahead, using the tools explained on this page, can give peace of mind both to you and those important to you. There are many different types of documentation, and it can be hard to know which is the best option for our own personal situation. We are here to help. This page provides a short explanation about the most common types of advance planning documentation we offer and can provide assistance with. You can take a look at our scenarios to decide what service you need or book one of our doulas who are trained to help you identify the best options for you and assist you in documenting your wishes. You can book a one-to-one advance planning conversation with a doula here.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM HAVING AN ADVANCE PLAN?

Anyone at any stage of life, regardless of health status, who wants to exercise autonomy and choice rather than leave decision-making to their loved ones or solely in the hands of medical professionals.
Anyone who has a terminal diagnosis.
Anyone in the later stages of life.
Loved ones can benefit from knowing what your wishes and choices are. When it falls on them to make decisions on your behalf they can make informed choices based on your wishes giving them peace of mind.
Healthcare professionals will benefit from knowing your choices in knowing how best to care for you.

An Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment also known as an Advance Decision (or an Advance Directive in Scotland) is a legally binding document where you specify the medical treatments and interventions you may wish to refuse should you lose the capacity to make or communicate such decisions in the future.

An Advance Decision provides you with the opportunity to exercise your choice in writing before any unanticipated loss of your ability to make and/or communicate decisions, for example due to a sudden heart attack, stroke, accident or in the late stages of dementia. If you know, for example, that in such circumstances you would not want to be on a ventilator or have a feeding tube, you can refuse these treatments in your Advance Decision. Your Advance Decision will only be used if you lack capacity to make a decision

You can use our DIY Service Form or book a one-to-one Advance Planning conversation with a doula here.

ADVANCE DECISIONS

WHY MAKE AN ADVANCE DECISION?

You want control over your future treatment and care and to not have things done to you that you would wish to refuse.
You may want to have a natural death with the minimum amount of medical intervention if it is unlikely that you will recover and return and to a quality of life that is meaningful to you.
You want to take responsibility for making decisions so that your loved ones will not become involved in confusion, guilt and disagreement if tough decisions have to be made
You are able to make informed decisions in your own time and in advance rather than at the point of a crisis or an emergency
You have the reassurance that you have taken the steps to make sure your wishes are known, recorded and will be respected

WISHES & PREFERENCES

An Advance Statement (also known as a Statement of Wishes and Preferences) is a written statement of your wishes, preferences, beliefs, values, and priorities regarding your future end of life care. Whilst it is not a legally binding document itself, it provides important context to legally binding decisions you have made (e.g., in an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment) and lets those involved in your care know how you want to be cared for. It can be a simple and beautiful way to empower yourself, those close to you, and your carers at this time. Your Advance Statement may be read in an urgent situation, so it is a good idea to have a short version detailing your most important wishes, and you can also have a longer version to share with those caring for you for example if you have carers coming to support you in your home.

LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY

Whilst an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment and a Statement of Wishes and Preferences allow you to document your own decisions ahead of time, there are other options. You can give decision making power to another person or person(s) so that they can make decisions on your behalf should you lose capacity to make or communicate these yourself. You can do this in a legally binding way by making a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA). There are two types of LPA, one for Property & Finance, and one for Health & Welfare. There are several important decisions to make when creating an LPA including whether your appointed Attorneys can act independently of one another and whether you grant them the power to make decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment. Here at fin we can guide you through the process of making an LPA and help you to decide what decisions are right for you and your situation. You can make an LPA on the .gov website here

WILLS

Wills are probably the most well-known advance planning tool, and most of us know that it is a good idea to make one, however fewer than 4 in 10 of us in the UK have done so. If a person dies without making a Will, the process of distributing their assets can be long and distressing for those left behind. It may also mean that your money, possessions, and property are not allocated in line with your wishes. It is possible to make a Will yourself using a DIY pack, or you can make one via a Solicitor. Costs associated with making a Will can vary greatly and it is a good idea to know your options – our doulas will be happy to discuss this with you, though we do not currently offer a Will-making service.

Other ways of planning ahead: organ, tissue and body donation & your digital legacy.

Advance planning also includes letting people know what you would like to happen after you die. Documenting your wishes regarding organ donation can be very helpful as your family may be asked about your preferences, in the UK you are now automatically ‘opted in’ so need to ‘opt out’ or choose which organs you want to donate, you can do this here. Those important to you may also have to make decisions about your online presence – many of us accumulate a huge amount of online data including emails and social media during our lifetime, and we can log how we would like this to be stored/removed in the event of our death. Our doulas can discuss all of these scenarios with you and help you to decide and document your preferences.