Advanced Care Planning
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a continuous, lifelong process of reflection, discussion, and documentation designed to help you prepare for future health and personal care. It ensures that if you ever become mentally incapable of speaking or making medical decisions for yourself, your values, wishes, and preferred treatments are known and respected.
Topic - Advance Care Planning
A guide for patients and families in Canada
What is advance care planning
Advance care planning means thinking about and sharing your wishes for future health care. It helps others make decisions if an illness or injury leaves you unable to decide for yourself. You can start while you are well. You continue to make your own decisions as long as you are able.
Five steps you can take
Think about what matters to you. Consider your comfort, independence, relationships, cultural or spiritual beliefs, and what makes life meaningful. What would you want your care team to understand?
Learn about your health. Ask about likely changes, treatment choices, benefits and burdens. Discuss what recovery might look like for you after CPR (attempts to restart your heart) or treatment with a breathing machine.
Identify your decision maker. Choose someone you trust who is willing to speak for you and follow your wishes. Ask how to legally appoint them in your province or territory. Being your emergency contact does not automatically give someone this authority.
Talk about your wishes. Speak with your decision maker, people close to you, and your health care team. You could begin: “If I became very ill, these are the things that would matter most to me.”
Write it down and share it. Use the forms for your province or territory. Give copies to your decision maker and care team. Keep them accessible and tell others where they are. Review them after a major health or life change.
Important things to know
Planning does not mean giving up or refusing all treatment. You can express a wish for treatments that may help you, as well as limits on treatments you would not want. Care to relieve pain and other symptoms remains important whatever you choose.
An advance care plan is not the same as a medical order about CPR or other treatment. Ask your clinician whether you need a separate goals of care or resuscitation order. Legal documents, signing rules and decision maker roles differ across Canada. A will about your property does not replace health care planning.
When to ask for help
Book a visit with your doctor or nurse practitioner to discuss your wishes, especially after a new diagnosis, hospital stay or change in health. Ask for an interpreter or social worker if helpful. If your wishes change, tell your care team and decision maker and update your documents and any medical orders with the team.
AI generated Sources and support: Advance Care Planning Canada • Fraser Health • MyHealth Alberta
Reviewed 23 October 2026 • Supports discussion with your health care team. This leaflet is not a legal directive.