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Advance Care Planning – Group Visits (ACP-GV)

Advance Care Planning Group Visits (ACP-GV) offer a place to understand the benefits of planning for future healthcare decisions if you become too ill to make or communicate choices for yourself. ACP-GV creates an opportunity for you to share your experiences and learn from other Veterans about the value of Advance Care Planning (ACP). You’re encouraged to bring someone with you to the group. ACP is not just about terminal illness – it can be used by individuals of any age when they lose decision-making capacity due to mental illness, accidents, or acute medical conditions.

Take Control. Keep Control. Be Prepared.

Blue circle with check mark stating You can do it! Advance Directive (I did!)

Advance Care Planning Group Visits (ACP-GV) offer a place to understand the benefits of planning for future healthcare decisions if you become too ill to make or communicate choices for yourself. ACP-GV creates an opportunity for you to share your experiences and learn from other Veterans about the value of Advance Care Planning (ACP). You’re encouraged to bring someone with you to the group. ACP is not just about terminal illness – it can be used by individuals of any age when they lose decision-making capacity due to mental illness, accidents, or acute medical conditions.

What is Advance Care Planning?

Image with six photos listing aspects of Advance Directives

Advance Care Planning is the process where you identify and communicate your values and preferences regarding future health care for use at a time if you are no longer capable of making healthcare decisions. It is about planning for the health related “what ifs” that may happen at any stage of life.
 

It takes into consideration:

■ Your values

■ Your culture

■ Your personal history, background and lived experiences that make you unique and individual

■ Your spiritual beliefs

■Which treatments may or may not be right for you

■ Who you would like to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself

Advance Care Planning allows you to write down what you have discussed with your trusted others, so that your future medical decisions are known. This process can be overwhelming; you don’t have to do it alone! Join an Advance Care Planning-Group Visit (ACP-GV) workshop by calling  971-352-0844.

What are Advanced Care Planning Group Visits (ACP-GV)?

Advance Care Planning Workshops are made up of Veterans, just like you, who are interested in learning more about Advance Care Planning. They provide education, information and answers about Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives.

Through these workshops, Veterans experience:

  • A group setting where you can talk, learn and share experiences with other Veterans
  • Access to health care providers to ask questions and understand how to complete the VA Advance Directive
  • The chance to invite a friend or family member to attend the Workshop with you
  • Help with how to talk about this difficult topic
  • The chance to document your wishes in an Advance Directive
  • Group workshops are free and offered by video (VVC) or phone appointments weekly
  • Join an ACP-GV workshop by calling  971-352-0844.

Eligibility: Who is Invited to Attend an ACP-GV Workshop?

All Veterans are encouraged to attend an ACP-GV Workshop! Having a conversation about Advance Care Planning may be difficult, but these discussions will ensure that a plan is created reflecting what YOU want. Your trusted others and healthcare providers will better understand what matters most to you.

Veterans encouraged to attend an ACP-GV Workshop are:

  • All Veterans! Advance Care Planning is not based on health status, age or knowledge level of Advance Care Planning and there can always be more to learn
  • If you do not have an Advance Directive on file with the VA, or you would like to update your existing Advance Directive
  • If you have not engaged in Advance Care Planning in the last 3 years; ACP is a lifelong, ongoing process that should be revisited frequently
  • After the loss of a family member, friend, or chosen health care agent in your Advance Directive
  • After a change in marital status (i.e. marriage or divorce)
  • After any significant diagnosis or change in your health status
  • Veterans can bring a guest (i.e. partner, caregiver, friend, family member, etc.)

Why is Advance Care Planning important for me?

Anything can happen at any time. Advance Care Planning can help you keep control of your healthcare even if you become medically or mentally unable to speak for yourself. Advance Care Planning is your right.

Advance Care Planning can help:

  • Family and friends understand your wishes and advocate for what you want
  • Guide your healthcare team to carry out your medical decisions
  • Specify treatments and care you do or do not want
  • Give you and your trusted others peace of mind knowing your preferences are known and documented.
  • Reduce burden and stress during stressful times
  • Join an ACP-GV workshop by calling  971-352-0844.
VA Portland Advanced Care Planning informational trifold (Aug 2021) (PDF)

  • It is up to you to decide if you want an advance directive. Your decision will not affect your access to health care or other VHA services.

  • As a VA patient you have a say in the health care you receive.

  • Advance Care Planning is a process of clarifying your values and health care choices for use at a future time if you are no longer able to make decisions for yourself.

  • All Veterans, whether healthy or ill, young or old, receiving healthcare in a clinic, hospital, or at home, deserve to have their wishes heard and healthcare preferences honored. This series of animated stories highlights different communication approaches and tools to support patients at any age or stage of health in sharing, documenting, and honoring their healthcare goals and preferences.

  • VA web page with overview of ACP-GV program

  • Download a VA Form 10-0137. Use VA Form 10-0137 to give specific people permission to make health care decisions for you, and to let VA health care providers know your wishes for medical, mental health, long-term, and other types of care.

  • In this ~ 3 minute video, a combat Veteran shares his experience as a participant in the Advance Care Planning via Group Visits (ACP-GV) Program. ACP-GV engages Veterans, their families and caregivers in advance care planning by facilitating a group discussion that elicits personal experience(s) and encourages participants to identify a ‘next step’ to take in the process of planning for future health care needs.

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