Planning ahead

Talking about end of life can be stressful, upsetting or tiring. You don’t have to do it all at once. Preparing for end of life is ongoing and can take time.

It’s important to think about and write down your decisions ahead of time. This is so friends, family and healthcare professionals know what you want. It’s helpful to do this in advance in case you’re unable to express your wishes in the future.

Preparing for the end of life is known as advance care planning (ACP). Advance care planning is an umbrella term for the process of sharing your wishes about your future health care.

Your advance care planning may include one or more of the following:

• an advance care plan
• an advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT)
• nomination of a lasting power of attorney (LPA)
• writing a will
• planning a funeral.

Marie Curie has a planning ahead checklist that lists some of things you might like to do to plan ahead. Download the checklist on their website.

An advance care plan is a written record of your preferences about your future care. Advance care plans are not legally binding, but your preferences will always be considered by healthcare professionals.

It can be difficult to know where to start. Here are some questions that you might want to discuss with your family, carers, and healthcare professionals:

• What matters to me most now?
• What can be done to help me if I get more out of breath?
• Where would I prefer to be cared for while ill?
• If possible, where would I wish to die?
• What can be done to support my family and friends?
• Is there anything else I need to do about my will and financial affairs?
• What can be done to reduce any pain I might experience?
• Are there any specific treatments I don't want?
• How do I feel about organ donation?

We have more support on talking to loved ones about death.

Marie Curie has more information on planning your care in advance on their website. They also have a free booklet called Planning Ahead, which has space for you to write down preferences about your future care. Order or download the booklet on their website.

An advance decision to refuse treatment (ADRT)

This is a decision you can make now to say which treatments you do not want in the future. It's sometimes called an advance decision, or a living will.

For example, you may not want to be put on a breathing machine (ventilator), even if you may die without it. This document is legally binding in England and Wales. This means that it cannot be changed or stopped.

In Scotland and Northern Ireland, a living will is not legally binding, but it is usually recognised and followed by doctors. 

Do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation (DNACPR)

As part of your advance care decisions, you can request to not be saved (resuscitated) if your heart stops. This is called a DNACPR.

The Resuscitation Council UK has more information about DNACPR. 

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint a person to help you make decisions, or to make decisions on your behalf. This person must be over 18 years old. In Scotland, they can be over 16 years old.

There are two types of LPA:

• Health and welfare. They can help you make decisions about your daily routine, medical care, care homes and treatments.
• Property and financial. They can help you make decisions about finance and property, including managing bank accounts, paying bills, or selling your home.

You can choose to make one type or both. You can use to the government website to assign someone as your LPA.

Marie Curie has more information about making a Power of Attorney on their website.

Your will is a legal document that says what will happen to your money, property and belongings after your death.

Before making your will, it's important to think about:

• what money, possessions and property you have. This is called your estate.
• who you want to give your estate to. 
• who you want to take care of any children who are under 18, or pets.
• any wishes you may have about your burial or cremation.
• who you want to carry out your wishes and sort out your estate. They are known as the executor of your will.

We offer a free will writing service for people aged over 50. You can also find out more about writing a will on GOV.UK.

Marie Curie has more information about making a will for people living with a terminal illness. 

There are other practical things to think about sorting before the end of life. This includes things you should make your family aware of, such as your:

• bank details
• credit card details
• pension details
• passport
• insurance details
• property rental contract or house deeds
• usernames and passwords for important accounts
• gas, water, and electricity supplier details
• phone contract details.

Marie Curie has more information about sorting out your online accounts, and planning ahead for your bank accounts and finances.

Palliative care is available for anyone with a life-threatening illness. Palliative care is not just for the end of life. You can have palliative care at any stage of a terminal illness.

This care is designed to improve the quality of your life and the lives of those who are close to you. This includes controlling symptoms, such as extreme tiredness (fatigue), anxiety, and breathlessness.

Palliative care also aims to support you and your loved ones emotionally, spiritually, and practically before and after death. Talk to your doctor and nurse about local services that could help you.

Find out more about palliative care on the Marie Curie website.

You can write your funeral wishes in your advance care plan. This way, your family and friends will know what you want for your funeral, which can really help them.

Some people choose to pay for their funeral in advance. You can do this with a pre-paid funeral plan or life insurance.

Marie Curie has more information about planning a funeral. 

Anyone can become an organ donor after death. There is also no age limit on donating organs.

Being an organ donor is a personal choice. It's a good idea to take some time to think about what is right for you and tell your loved ones your decision. Having a health condition does not necessarily stop you from becoming an organ donor. You can find out more about organ donation on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.

Everyone living in the UK will automatically become an organ donor, unless you decide to opt-out.