Advance Care Planning: There isn’t a ‘right time’ to start planning for serious health care decisions.

We’re notoriously bad at thinking about our future selves and making decisions that will affect lives down the road. From retirement savings to healthy eating and exercise habits, there’s a disconnect between how our decisions today affect our lives — and the lives of others — tomorrow. This is especially true when planning for an unexpected health emergency, like being hospitalized for COVID-19 — when you are no longer able to express your wishes or physically communicate important health care decisions.

Imagine, for example, that you suffer a serious ski accident where you’re left unconscious, in a coma, or worse. You would need someone — such as a family member or friend — to make health care decisions on your behalf. That’s where Advance Care Planning comes in. By documenting your health care wishes and core values, you can make your voice heard and respected in situations where you cannot physically communicate for yourself. Without it, family or friends may find themselves in a vulnerable position — unsure of the best decisions to make — and with little time to make those decisions. Planning for these situations not only ensures control over your life story, but it empowers your loved ones to make difficult health care decisions with the confidence of knowing this is…