Care Coaches
Care Coaches work with patients to improve and facilitate communication about goals, values, and preferences with their loved ones and care teams. They discuss goals of care to get a better understanding of what is most important to patients, their wishes, and priorities. Care Coaches can help guide you through the Advance Directive and help you understand the choices you have.
For more information about Care Coach services and to schedule an appointment, please email us at: CareCoach@stanfordhealthcare.org or ask your care team to refer you to the Care Coach Program for Advance Care Planning Services.聽
What is advance health care planning?
Advance health care planning helps you plan the health care you would want to receive if you became too ill to make decisions for yourself.
In advance care planning, you start by thinking about:
- What matters most to you in life
- What gives you meaning
- Who you would like to make decisions for you
- Health care you would or wouldn't want
Why think about this kind of health care planning now?
"It's always too early, until it's too late."聽 People often think it's too early to start advance care planning, and that they don't need it "just yet."聽 However, no one plans to get seriously sick, or to get into an accident.聽 But, if these things happen and you do not have an advance care plan in place, it may be too late for you to let people know the kind of care you want.聽 That's why it's important to be ready now for whatever may come.聽 Health care teams see how hard it can be for your loved ones to make decisions for you, when they aren't really sure what you would want.
How do I get started?
It鈥檚 normal to feel nervous about starting this process.聽 The good news is there are some clear steps you can take to get started.聽 Keep in mind, advance care planning is something you do over time.聽 You can always come back to your advance health care directive and change it.
- Talk with your doctor about your current health
- Think about what matters most to you
- Choose a surrogate decision maker (A surrogate is someone who could make decisions for you if you were unable to do so)
- Complete an Advance Health Care Directive
For more information about Care Coach services and to schedule an appointment, please email us at: CareCoach@stanfordhealthcare.org or ask your care team to refer you to the Care Coach Program for Advance Care Planning Services.聽