Alliance for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What happens if I don’t have an Advance Care Directive in place and I am not able to make my own decisions?
2. What kind of disagreements can arise about an Advance Care Directive?
3. Who can help my Substitute Decision-Makers, relatives or friends resolve a conflict about my health, accommodation or personal issues?
4. How will my voice be heard during a conflict?
5. What if there is a dispute about my decision making capacity?
ANSWER:
If you do not have an Advance Care Directive it may be unclear who you would want and trust to make decisions about your accommodation, health or other personal matters, if there is a time when you are not able to make these decisions yourself. Without an Advance Care Directive, family or close friends who could be asked to make decisions for you may not know your wishes.
Conflict can arise amongst relatives and friends about who is the most appropriate person to make these decisions and whether the decisions actually reflect your wishes, beliefs and values.
This conflict can be avoided by making an Advance Care Directive and will make sure that you receive the right support, timely medical treatment and appropriate accommodation options.