FMOLHS logo
ServicesFind a Doctor
Locations
Patients & Guests
Research and Education

What can we help you find?

Popular Links

Advance Care Planning

Patient Resources

Advance Care Planning is important for every adult. It involves thinking about the type of healthcare you would and would not want in the future if you had a sudden or terminal illness and could no longer make your own healthcare decisions. By planning ahead, you can ensure your wishes are known, reduce confusion for your loved ones and provide them with peace of mind during a difficult time.

An Advance Care Planning facilitator can guide you through this process, helping you think about your goals and values, choose a Healthcare Power of Attorney, and complete your Advance Directive.

Schedule an appointment with an Advance Care Planning facilitator today:

Toll Free: (833) 526-6050
Baton Rouge area: (225) 526-6050
AdvanceCarePlanning@fmolhs.org

  • What is a Power of Attorney?

    A Power of Attorney (POA) is the person you designate to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so due to illness or injury. You may also name an alternate POA to step in if your primary POA is unavailable. Designating an alternate is not mandatory but can prove helpful.

    There are two common types of Power of Attorney:

    • A Financial Power of Attorney manages financial matters and decisions for you.
    • A Healthcare Power of Attorney makes healthcare decisions for you.

  • What is an Advance Directive?

    An Advance Directive is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment in situations where you can no longer communicate your wishes. Depending on your state, the document may need to be notarized or witnessed to be legally binding.

  • Important Steps in Advance Care Planning

    • Identify and document your Healthcare Power of Attorney.
    • Reflect on your values and what “living well” means to you.
    • Record your medical care preferences in an Advance Directive.
    • Add any additional wishes you want your loved ones and care team to know.
    • Review your state’s requirements (for example, notarization or witnesses) to make your documents legally valid.
    • Share your decisions with your Healthcare Power of Attorney, family members, and healthcare providers.

Advance Care Planning Resources

General Resources

  • Healthcare Power of Attorney Form (PDF)
  • Learn more about the steps of Advance Care Planning with this walk-through from Mary Raven, MD, and Mark Kantrow, MD, hospice and palliative care physicians with Our Lady of the Lake Physician Group Palliative and Supportive Care.

For Louisiana Residents

For Mississippi Residents