What is Advance Care Planning (ACP)?
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of planning for your current and future healthcare. ACP helps you to communicate to your loved ones and healthcare team about your values and how these values shape your healthcare preferences. In the event you are unable to make decisions or speak for yourself, your ACP guides your Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS) and healthcare team to make decisions in your best interest.
An Advance Care Plan (ACP) is not a legal document in Singapore.
Why is ACP important?
Sometimes, we may encounter a medical crisis which impairs our own capacity to make decisions. In such cases, we may need our loved ones to participate in decisions related to our health and personal care.
Should this happen, Advance Care Planning (ACP) helps you to communicate your values and healthcare preferences to your loved ones, and your healthcare team. Advance Care Planning (ACP) helps to avoid guilt, stress and conflicts among your loved ones, as your choices guide them towards making important care decisions for you.
When should I do my ACP?
ACP is suitable for everyone, regardless of age or state of health. It is important because it helps you to explore and understand your values, beliefs, healthcare experience, and current state of health as well as future healthcare preferences. ACP is particularly important for people with early diagnosis of medical condition, chronic diseases or potentially life-limiting illness.
How do I start Advance Care Planning (ACP)?
ACP sessions are conducted by appointment basis, to book an appoint, you may email or call us:
- Via
email
- Via telephone 6359 6411/ 6359 6410
(Operating hours: Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm)
ACP sessions may be conducted in person or over a video conferencing platform (Tele-ACP). ACP sessions are conducted by appointment basis.
You are encouraged to go through the
ACP conversation starter booklet.
Who should I appoint as my voice or “Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS)”?
ACP is a conversation with the person or people who will represent you if you cannot speak for yourself. Your Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS) speaks for you when you do not have capacity to decide for yourself or to communicate your wishes.
Your Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS) would ideally be:
- At least 21 years old.
- Someone who knows you well. For example, a family member or a close friend.
- Willing to speak up for your goals and values on your behalf.
- Someone you trust and will act in your best interests to tell your doctors about the care you would like to receive should you lose mental capacity.
- Someone who can handle stressful situations well.
You may nominate up to two Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS). Both Nominated Healthcare Spokesperson (NHS) should be clear and agreeable with your preferences.
If I have done my Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) or Advance Medical Directive (AMD), do I need to do Advance Care Planning (ACP)?
Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)
A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) grants your donee legal rights to make decisions for you. But it does not tell your donee what to do for your personal welfare in the event they need to act on your behalf.
Advance Care Plan (ACP)
An Advance Care Plan (ACP) helps you to communicate to your loved one, who may also be your donee, about what to do about your personal welfare. Examples of personal welfare matters include: where you should live, who you should live with, daily lifestyle, and simple healthcare decisions.
In order to reduce conflicting decisions among family members, we encourage you to nominate the same person as the donee and nominated healthcare spokesperson for both your LPA and ACP.
Advance Medical Directive (AMD)
An Advance Medical Directive (AMD) only covers your preferences for life-sustaining treatment should you lose your mental capacity when you are deemed to be terminally ill and death is imminent.
Can I change my mind after an Advance Care Planning (ACP) discussion?
Your Advance Care Plan is a reflection of your values and preferences. As your life changes, so may your life goals and decisions. You may continue to make changes to your ACP as long as you have mental capacity. Your most updated ACP will replace the previous version(s). Read over your ACP every few years to make sure that it is still relevant.
In addition, it is a good idea to review your ACP after the following events:
- Every new decade of your life
- After a significant medical diagnosis
- After a significant change in daily functions or activities of daily living
You are also encouraged to share any changes with your loved ones and healthcare team whenever an updated version is documented so that they will be updated of your new ACP.
How much is the cost of an ACP discussion at TTSH?
For TTSH patients, each ACP session is chargeable at S$37 before GST. For general public, each ACP session is chargeable at S$50 (exclusive of GST).
The ACP discussion would take approximately 60 mins to 90 mins (depending on the discussion).