Advance Health Care Planning: The Earlier, the Better.

This article discusses the importance of advance health care planning, specifically focusing on medical decision making at the end-of-life. It emphasizes the need for individuals to communicate their treatment preferences to ensure they receive the medical care they want and to reduce stress for loved ones during a medical crisis. The article explains the concept of advance directives and the role of a medical power of attorney in making decisions on behalf of the patient. It also highlights the importance of discussing care preferences with family and medical teams, considering personal values, and exploring options like palliative care and hospice. The article concludes by encouraging readers to consider their values, have conversations with loved ones and medical providers, and familiarize themselves with their state's advance care planning documents. [Extracted from the article]