Making an advance care plan
Advance care planning means thinking and talking about how you want to be cared for in the final months of your life, and writing it down, in case a time comes when you cannot take part in decisions yourself. It can include an advance statement of your wishes, an advance decision to refuse treatment, and a lasting power of attorney. (NHS)
This page follows NHS guidance for England. If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, check with the care team, because the rules and forms can be different.
Signposting, not medical adviceSources checked 28 September 2026
Why plan ahead?
It can help you get the care you want, and make things easier for your partner or family. If they already know where you would like to be cared for, whether you would want to go into hospital or be resuscitated, and any treatment you want to refuse, they are spared making hard decisions later without knowing what you would have wanted. (NHS)
Ways to start
- Start the conversation with your partner, family, carers and health professionals. (NHS)
- Explore your options, such as where you want to be cared for. (NHS)
- Write your wishes down. This is called an advance care plan, and it may include an advance statement. (NHS)
- If there is treatment you would not want, make an advance decision to refuse treatment. (NHS)
- Choose someone to make decisions for you if you cannot, by making a lasting power of attorney. (NHS)
Advance statement
An advance statement sets down your preferences, wishes, beliefs and values about your future care. It can cover anything, such as where you want to be cared for, how your religious or spiritual beliefs should be reflected, or who will look after your dog. (NHS)
It is not legally binding, but anyone making decisions about your care must take it into account. You do not have to sign it, but a signature makes clear the wishes are yours. Keep it somewhere safe, tell people where it is, and you can keep a copy in your medical notes. (NHS)
Advance decision to refuse treatment
An advance decision, sometimes called a living will, is a decision you make now to refuse a specific treatment in the future. The treatments must be named, and you should be clear about the circumstances. (NHS)
It is legally binding if it complies with the Mental Capacity Act, is valid and applies to the situation. You must be 18 or over and have had the capacity to make the decision. (NHS)
To refuse life-sustaining treatment, such as CPR, the decision must be written down, signed by you and by a witness, and say that it applies even if your life is at risk. (NHS)
Related pages
If you need help now
If someone's life is in danger, call 999. If you need medical help urgently and are not sure what to do, call 111 (NHS 111 in England and Wales, NHS 24 in Scotland). In Northern Ireland, nidirect explains where to get urgent help.
If someone has just died
- If the death was expected, at home
- Contact their GP. If community nurses have been visiting, call them too: they can verify the death. Outside surgery hours, contact the on-call doctor.
- If the death was unexpected
- Call 999 straight away and explain what has happened. The police will also be told, because the coroner needs to know.
Sources: NHS: when to call 999 · NHS: when to use 111 · Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust · nidirect: when someone dies at home
Sources
- NHS: Why plan ahead for end of life care? (Last reviewed 3 August 2023; read 28 September 2026)
- NHS: Advance statement about your care wishes (Last reviewed 19 September 2023; read 28 September 2026)
- NHS: Advance decision to refuse treatment (living will) (Last reviewed 19 September 2023; read 28 September 2026)