Planning Ahead

Ways to plan ahead

• Family Carers Ireland - Emergency Care Plan

  This Emergency Care Plan was developed by Family Carers Ireland in response to the Covid-19 outbreak at the request of our members but it can be used for any emergency.

• Think Ahead from the Irish Hospice Foundation

  The Think Ahead form was developed to help ensure that a person's right to make decisions for themselves is honoured. It is a tool to help you think, talk about and record your preferences in the event of an emergency, serious illness or death. On the form you can record your preferences about the care you receive in the case of an emergency or serious illness, you can also record your emergency contact details, your health information, legal and financial information and your wishes for care after your death. The process of recording your preferences can help the people who are close to you along with any medical, legal and financial professionals to ensure your decisions and preferences are followed.

  Think Ahead was developed by the Irish Hospice Foundation and the Forum on End of Life in Ireland. You can read more on www.thinkahead.ie where you can download a copy of the form or order one from the Irish Hospice Foundation. 

  

   

• Advance Healthcare Directive for healthcare decisions

  An Advance Healthcare Directive (AHD) is a written document which allows you to plan ahead by indicating now

  • what healthcare treatments you would want or not want at a time when you are unable to make decisions for yourself
  • and naming a person or persons who is authorised to make those decisions for you at that time.

   

  The purpose of an AHD is to ensure that you are treated at all times according to your will and preferences, beliefs and values. An AHD provides healthcare professionals with important information about you and your choices in relation to treatment. An AHD can be made by any person over the age of 18 years at any time, not just where a person is unwell or has a diagnosis of dementia.

  The Decision Supporters (Interveners) section provides detailed information on an Advance Healthcare Directive and a Designated Healthcare Representative. 

  AHD Resources

  The Think Ahead form contains a format for an Advance Healthcare Directive. Think Ahead is available from the Irish Hospice Foundation or through www.thinkahead.ie  

  

  Read more about Advance Healthcare Directives in the Irish Hospice Foundation Guidance Documents on ‘Advance care planning and advance healthcare directives with a person with dementia’   

• Power of Attorney

  A Power of Attorney means you (the Donor) can give another person (the Attorney) the right to act on your behalf. The current legislation in Ireland is the Powers of Attorney Act 1996. The ADMC 2015, Part 7 will provide an enhanced legal framework for Enduring Powers of Attorney. Quick reference guide: Differences between an EPA created under Powers of Attorney Act 1996 & an EPA under ADM (Capacity) Act 2015.

  In Irish law there are two different Powers of Attorney, and 'ordinary' Power of Attorney and an Enduring Power of Attorney. 

  Power of Attorney

  You can create an 'ordinary' Power of Attorney to appoint an attorney for a specific purpose or for general purposes. An 'ordinary' power of attorney becomes invalid if the donor lacks capacity to make the decisions for themselves. 

  Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)

  You can create an Enduring Power of Attorney to plan in advance for a time when you may be unable to make decisions for yourself and about your affairs. Under an EPA you can appoint an attorney to make personal care and/or financial decisions on your behalf if you lack the capacity to make these decisions.   

  The Decision Supporters (Interveners) section provides detailed information on an Enduring Power of Attorney

  An EPA is an important legal document. To start thinking about planning ahead read our Brief FAQs on Enduring Power of Attorney. More detailed information on creating and registering an EPA, the role of the attorney, and steps you can take to safeguard yourself when creating an EPA is in our Sage Advocacy’s ‘Comprehensive FAQs - Enduring Power of Attorney’. 

  The Law Society of Ireland Guidelines on Enduring Powers of Attorney were prepared for solicitors practicing in the area, you can read this resource here.

• Making a Will

  Making a Will is a way of ensuring that your wishes are carried out after your death, and it makes it easier for the people who are important to you to act according to your wishes. By making a will you are deciding what will happen to the things you own. The house, the farm, the car, your money, pictures, furniture, jewellery – what are referred to as your “assets” which make up your “estate”.  By making a will you decide how your assets will be distributed among family and friends after your death. 

  Sage Advocacy has developed responses to some Frequently Asked Questions on Making a Will which you may find useful when thinking about making a Will.