
- 501 Comfort Place Mishawaka, IN 46545
Advance care planning (ACP) helps you ensure that your medical wishes are honored in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself. Honoring Choices® Indiana – North Central is here to help you with the process, every step of the way.
We use Respecting Choices® First Steps® ACP Facilitator Certification, which is designed for professionals such as social workers, nurses, clergy, physicians, and others involved in assisting patients and residents in making end-of-life treatment decisions. We also encourage community members with an interest in helping healthy adults discuss and document their future healthcare decisions to become certified facilitators.
Honoring Choices® Indiana – North Central serves counties in North Central Indiana by providing education, tools and resources to assist people with advance care planning.
Honoring Choices® Indiana – North Central serves counties in North Central Indiana by providing education, tools and resources to assist people with advance care planning.
Understanding what truly matters in your life can guide your decision-making. Take some time to think about the key aspects that shape your values—whether it’s your family, faith, or relationships. Once you have a clearer sense of your priorities, use the following questions to help you further define what’s most important:
Being informed about your health and treatment options is key to making well-rounded decisions for your future.
By taking these steps, you’ll be in a stronger position to make decisions that reflect your values, preferences, and health needs.
Your healthcare representative is the person who will make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Choose someone you trust to advocate for you. Their responsibilities will include:
If you don’t yet have someone in mind, it’s okay to continue with the process. The conversation might be difficult, but you can begin by acknowledging that discussing death and dying can be uncomfortable. You might say something like: “I don’t want my loved ones to be overwhelmed if something happens to me. If I were to become seriously ill and couldn’t make decisions myself, would you be willing to work with my doctors to make those decisions for me?”
Think about how much flexibility you want to give your representative in making decisions if a better option arises. This clarity will help guide your representative if difficult choices need to be made.
Once you’ve made your decisions, share your plan with those closest to you and complete an advance directive document.