Advance care planning is important for everyone, but especially those living with Parkinson’s.

Being clear about your wishes for future health care is important not only for you but also to ease a lot of stress for your loved ones.

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning is all about thinking ahead when it comes to your future health care. It allows you to decide what health care you would or wouldn’t want if you become unable to make decisions about your health care in the future.

Advance care planning helps to ensure your loved ones and health care providers know what matters most to you and respect your treatment preferences. Advance care planning is a process, and it can involve thinking and talking about future healthcare choices. It may involve open conversations with your family, friends, and care team. It can look different for everyone – it’s your choice how and when you do advance care planning. It may or may not involve formal documents.

Completing advance care planning documents is a way to formalise your wishes and preferences. Documents can provide clarity and certainty to guide future healthcare decision-making.  Advance care planning documents can be used to:

Some documents, like advance care directives and forms to appoint a substitute decision-maker, are legally binding. Processes and document names differ throughout Australia. Visit the Advance Care Planning Australia website to learn more about recording your choices in your state or territory. You must have decision-making capacity to complete these forms. This means you can make and communicate your decisions.

Why is advance care planning important?

Advance care planning is important for everyone. It benefits you, your family, carers, and health professionals.

  • Your peace of mind: It gives you the comfort of having a plan in place.
  • Your voice is heard: It helps to ensure you receive the care you actually want.
  • Easing the burden for your decision makers: Your family and friends are more confident and less stressed or confused because you’ve made your wishes clear.

Planning not only for people with Parkinson’s

Advance care planning is something everyone should consider, no matter your age or health. It’s best to start when you’re healthy, before there’s an urgent need for decisions to be made. It’s especially important if you:

  • are older
  • have a long-term illness
  • have multiple health conditions
  • have early cognitive impairment
  • are nearing the end of your life
  • have specific religious, spiritual, cultural, or values-based wishes and preferences about health care.

Visit the Advance Care Planning Australia website to learn more:

Understand advance care planning

Start planning

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Important things to remember

Advance care directives should contain:

  • the person’s full name
  • date of birth
  • address
  • person’s signature
  • any statutory advance care directives appointing a substitute decision-maker should contain instructions for the substitute decision-maker.
0%
of Australians have discussed their wishes for future care with someone
0%
of Australians have put their wishes for future care into writing (but not a formal advance care directive)
0%
of Australians have completed an advance care directive
0%
of Australians have formally appointed a substitute decision maker
Advance Care Planning Australia logo icon
0%
of Australians have engaged in advance care planning

Source: Advance Care Planning Australia (2025). Advance care planning prevalence in Australia 2025. Available at: https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/

Infosheet kindly reviewed by Advance Care Planning Australia

Advance Care Planning Australia™ (ACPA) is an Australian Government initiative. ACPA is the national voice on advance care planning. ACPA aims to promote and improve advance care planning for all Australians to enable people to get care that aligns with their wishes and preferences.

Call the free National Advance Care Planning Advisory LineTM 1300 208 582 or email [email protected]. ACPA offers free advice and can help guide you through the advance care planning process.

Resources from Advance Care Planning Australia

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