Advance Care Planning (ACP)
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of thinking about and communicating your wishes for future medical care — before a health crisis makes it too late to do so.
Why it matters
If your parent becomes incapacitated and cannot communicate their wishes, medical decisions fall to the family — often in a crisis, with incomplete information. ACP removes that uncertainty and ensures their wishes are respected.
What does ACP cover?
- Preferred place of care (hospital, home, hospice)
- Acceptable medical interventions (CPR, ventilator, tube feeding)
- Who should be involved in decisions
- Personal values and what "quality of life" means to them
How to start
- 1.Have the conversation — not over one meal, but over time. Ask: "If you couldn't speak for yourself, what would you want?"
- 2.Document it — ACP facilitators at polyclinics and hospitals can help complete the official form
- 3.Upload to My Legacy vault — at mylegacy.life.gov.sg so it's accessible to healthcare providers
- 4.Review it — revisit every few years or after a significant health event
ACP facilitators
Free ACP sessions are available at: - Polyclinics (register through HealthHub) - Public hospitals (ask the medical social work department) - Selected community care agencies
ACP vs. LPA
ACP is about healthcare preferences. An LPA (Lasting Power of Attorney) appoints someone to make legal and financial decisions. Both are important — and ideally done together.
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