At Gilchrist, we help patients and families navigate difficult conversations every day, including advance care planning. We offer guidance and support to help you document your healthcare wishes with confidence.
It Starts with a Conversation
In today’s healthcare landscape, making decisions about your future care is important at every age and stage of life. Serious illness can affect anyone, and having your healthcare wishes documented in advance is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give yourself and the people you love.
Families often avoid conversations about end-of-life choices, yet these discussions can bring clarity, comfort, and peace of mind. Talking openly about what matters most—your values, your preferences, and the role you want your loved ones to play—helps ensure your wishes are honored when it matters most.
These conversations may feel difficult, but they make an enormous difference. By discussing your wishes with family, friends, and your medical providers, you take an active role in shaping your care and your legacy.
Gilchrist is here to help guide you through these important decisions—so your care reflects your values every step of the way.
Advance Care Planning Information
Below are answers to frequently asked questions, along with a list of resources for more information.
What Is Healthcare Decision Making?
Healthcare decision-making, also known as advance care planning, means outlining in advance how you would like to be cared for if you can no longer make medical decisions for yourself.
Why Is Healthcare Decision Making Important?
Imagine you had a stroke, an accident, or a sudden serious illness that leaves you incapable of making medical decisions. Without an advance directive, doctors will either make these decisions for you or, in the best case, look to your family to make them. Would your family know your wishes? Or would they struggle with the weight of these decisions—perhaps even long after the decision is made?
By considering your wishes now and documenting them, you will free your family from the burden of making these difficult decisions if you are no longer able. It will help eliminate disagreements among your loved ones and reduce worry, guilt, and regret.
Resources To Help You Get Started – Other Websites That May Be of Help
MyDirectives helps you create your own digital advance care plan or upload any advance directive, advance care plan, or portable medical order you already have.
A portable, durable medical order form covering options for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other life-sustaining treatments.
The nation’s only national advance care planning program. Providing peace of mind for more than 25 years.
Please return this form to your provider via email, fax, or mail.
Help everyone talk about their wishes for care at the end of life so they can be understood and respected.
The Maryland Attorney General’s website provides clear information and downloadable forms to help residents create advance directives and make informed decisions about their future healthcare.
Decision-making at the end of life is not as straightforward as you might imagine. Read what you should know about end-of-life health care decision-making.
If you are looking for additional help about Advanced Care Planning, please give us a call at 888.823.8880
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