Advance Care Planning

An advance directive is a legal document that allows adults to make their health care choices clear and name a surrogate to act for them should they become unable to speak for themselves. Advance directives address health concerns as well as decisions regarding visitation, disclosure of medical records and other instructions specific to each individual. 

To obtain an advance directive form, please visit the Virginia Navigator website.  Print and fill out the form that best fits your needs, and provide copies to your physician and to trusted family and friends.

POLST forms (portable medical orders) include more details regarding treatment preferences than advance directives do. A POLST form is a medical order that a patient develops with their care team to define and specify their treatment preferences. These treatments may include resuscitation preferences, comfort and airway support measures, artificially administered nutrition, and other medical preferences. There are many benefits to completing a POLST form, one of which is to ensure that your medical preferences are honored.

POLST forms are designed for patients with terminal or chronic progressive illnesses, advanced age, and medically frail. Contact your care coordinator, physician or practitioner to initiate this process.

• Who will speak for you? The Conversations Project gives you practical advice about how to determine your healthcare agent or medical power of attorney
• Practice Makes Perfect - The Conversation Project uses humor to explain how not to start a conversation with your loved ones about advance care planning and examples of how to start a conversation with your loved ones about advance care planning
• The Conversation Project Overview - Ellen Goodman co-founder of the Conversation Project explains the goal and mission of having advance care planning conversations.
• Quien hablara por ti? (Who will speak for you in Spanish) - The Conversations Project gives you practical advice about how to determine your healthcare agent or medical power of attorney

• “What is End of Life Planning?” (2021) - Dr. Brain Unwin, Medical Director for Carilion Clinic Home Health and Geriatrician- Explains the purpose and benefit of completing advance directives and other advance care planning documents.
• “Your Healthcare Decisions Matter” (2023) - Dr. Brain Unwin, Medical Director for Carilion Clinic Home Health and Geriatrician; Nicole Bailey- Bedsaul, LCSW Carilion Clinic Home Health; and Lisa Sprinkel- VP of Carilion Clinic Mental Health and Carilion Clinic Home Health/Hospice- Discuss the benefit of writing down your healthcare preferences.
• “Planning today for the care you want tomorrow” (2024) - Renee Altizer, Former Director Carilion Clinic Hospice and Dr. Christi Stewart, Medical Director for Carilion Clinic Hospice- Explain how planning today for the care you want in the future provides peace of mind and reduces stress.

Visit these links to download an advance directive for your state of residence and for additional information about advance directives.

These resources can help you navigate the advance care planning process.

In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, our Hospice experts have come together to present on this important topic. The webinars discuss the values, wishes and goals that emerge when facing a serious illness. Learn how to honor values and wishes--and how to translate them into a plan of care that you and your loved ones deem most essential to decision making. 

In these videos, Dr. Brian Unwin, Chief, Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, explains what advance care planning is and why an advance directive is important.

Do you have questions or need more information? Please email us using the link below.