Advance Care Planning and Wills

Advance Care Planning: Planning for What Matters Most

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is about taking the time to think ahead and plan for your future. It’s a voluntary and personal process that supports you to consider what matters most in your life—your values, your wishes, and your priorities—and to share these with the people around you and those involved in your care.

What Is Advance Care Planning?

Advance Care Planning is an umbrella term that includes personal, legal, clinical, and financial planning. It’s not just for people nearing the end of life—it’s something that’s relevant to every adult, at any stage of life.

By engaging in Advance Care Planning, you can:

1. Reflect on what’s important to you
2. Make your wishes, beliefs, and values known
3. Plan for the kind of care and support you would want if circumstances change
4. Ensure your choices are respected in the future

An Ongoing Conversation

Advance Care Planning isn’t a one-time decision. It’s an ongoing process of conversations between you, your loved ones, and the professionals who support or care for you. These conversations can evolve over time as your needs, circumstances, and preferences change.

Whether it’s about the care you’d prefer during a period of illness, who you trust to make decisions on your behalf, or the kind of support you’d like in a crisis, Advance Care Planning helps make sure your voice is heard.

Why It Matters

While Advance Care Planning has often been linked to end-of-life care, its purpose goes far beyond that. It helps in:

• Preparing for declining health or sudden emergencies
• Enhancing quality of life by aligning care with personal values
• Providing peace of mind for both you and those important to you

Having a clear plan can reduce stress during difficult times and ensure that decisions are made in a way that reflects your wishes.

Policy and Guidance

In Northern Ireland, the Advance Care Planning policy document provides a framework to support adults in making informed and meaningful plans. It outlines the principles and values that guide Advance Care Planning and emphasises the importance of timely, realistic, and practical decision-making.

This guidance helps create a consistent and person-centred approach to Advance Care Planning across health and social care settings.

Start the Conversation Today

Advance Care Planning is about living well now and in the future. Whether you’re managing a health condition or simply want to be prepared, taking the first step can make a big difference. Talk to someone you trust. Reach out to a healthcare professional. Write down your thoughts. Whatever your next step, your voice matters.

TILII have produced five videos to help explain the different aspects of Advance Care Planning. Check out the resource section below for these videos and guidance for everyone involved in your life.

What is a will?

Making a Will is an important way to plan for the future. A Will is a legal document that says what you want to happen to your money, property, and possessions after you die. A Will is a written document that tells people:

• What you want to happen to everything you own after you die
• Who you want to give things to (this could be family, friends, or a charity)
• Who you want to look after your money and carry out your wishes (this person is called an “executor”)

You can make a will if you are over 18 years old and have ‘capacity‘. This means you know what a will is and what you own.

If it turns out you cannot make your own Will, someone can apply to the Court of Protection to create a Statutory Will for you. This will be based on what is best for you and your wishes.

What happens if you don’t make a will?

If you don’t make a Will:

• The law decides who gets your money and belongings
• The law follows strict rules, called intestacy rules
• These rules don’t consider your personal wishes or what your family actually needs

This means people you care about might not receive anything, even if that’s not what you wanted.

Writing a Will

We recommend that you do not write your own Will.

It’s best to ask a qualified lawyer (also called a solicitor) who:

• Knows the law about Wills
• Has experience working with people with a learning disability, autism and other support needs
• Can explain things clearly and support you

They will make sure your Will is legal, correct, and matches your wishes.

It can be scary making a will as some people might find the thought of their own death too much. Therefore, planning ahead is important. The support, of family, friends, support workers and your lawyer/solicitor are of great value.