Advance care planning for NZ seniors in 2025
Have you ever thought about what might happen should you become seriously ill? How you would like to live and perhaps what your wishes might be at the end of your life?
It’s not often a question many of us think about until we are diagnosed with a serious illness, or until someone near us is. That’s the importance of an advance care planning guide, which is all about figuring out what you or your loved ones want to do should the time come.
What is an advance care plan?
An advance care plan is a plan for how someone will be cared for, should their health decline and they become unable to make their wishes known in future. This includes plans for where they would like to receive care. For example, 69% of Kiwis in our Quality of Life Report said they would prefer to receive aged care in their own home.
This plan also includes preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care. It is especially common for those with serious diagnoses that may leave them unable to make decisions in future.
This plan is typically shared amongst family and healthcare professionals so that everyone is on the same page and understands the next steps. The goal is to ensure that even if you reach a stage where you can’t share your wishes, those around you will already have a plan in place to follow.
One report suggests that just 13% of Kiwis have an advanced care plan in place. And while it’s accepted that an advance care plan can’t fix the challenges a family faces in these situations, it may make the process a little easier by removing the doubt about what someone would like to do.
Advance care plan vs advance directive: What’s the difference?
An advance care plan is a general plan for your future healthcare needs, whereas an advance directive is a specific instruction on how you would like certain health situations managed. Often, an advance directive is part of an advance care plan.
For example, an advance directive might outline what you want to happen should you have a severe stroke or reach a stage of advanced dementia. It includes what kind of treatments you would like, and what situations you would consent to.
Typically, you would speak to a medical professional about an advance directive so you know what the options would be, so you can then make decisions about what you would like to happen should you not be able to make a decision for yourself at the time. This may even include refusing medical treatment.
How to create an advance care plan in New Zealand
There is no set specific way to create an advance care plan in New Zealand, but you may want to use a pre-set template to help you consider each question carefully.
For example, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand offers this template for Kiwis looking to put their wishes into writing. This is a great guide to ensure you cover all areas of the process, including who should make decisions for you if you are unable, where you would like to be cared for, the most important priorities for your care, and other points.
Once you have filled out your wishes, it is recommended to give a copy of your advance care plan to your GP, nurse or specialist, power of attorney, enduring power of attorney in New Zealand, and any important loved ones.
What should you include in your advance care plan
There are some key important things to include in any advance care plan, such as:
- What you consider quality of life
- Pain relief and medications you are comfortable with
- Where you would like to be when you receive care
- Other end-of-life comforts you would like
- Whether your treatment plan should focus more on keeping you alive, or your ultimate comfort levels
- Whether you wish to be an organ and tissue donor
- Wishes for your funeral and final resting place
- Information about where to find your will and other important records
Your advance care plan can also include other information if you wish for your carers and loved ones to know about it:
- Your hobbies and interests
- Your usual daily routines
- Things that are meaningful to you or make you happy
- Your cultural, religious, or spiritual believes
- How your illness impacted your life
- Why you made an advance care plan
- What worries you the most about the future
- Anything else you would like them to know
How an advance care plan fits into end-of-life planning
Like any end-of-life planning (such as funeral pre-planning), an advance care plan may ease a lot of the stress your family might have around difficult decision making during an already difficult time. However, this is one set of plans that you’ll still be around to appreciate for yourself as well.
In some ways, an advance care plan is the first step. It takes care of the decisions while you’re still around and able to make these crucial steps when it comes to your end-of-life care plan in New Zealand.
It could also be joined by a funeral plan and a will, which covers what happens immediately after your passing, and what happens to your estate.
Common mistakes when making an advance care plan
One of the most common mistakes when making an advance care plan is to get it confused with a funeral plan or a will. Keep in mind, it should be a plan for your final months or years while you’re still around – not for what happens next. When making your final plans, consider documenting your wishes for both your medical care and your estate.
Another common oversight is to leave out your family when you write your plan. While it’s certainly a tough conversation, it’s good to talk through your choices with them so they have the chance to hear it from you and understand it, rather than read it on a form later.
In our Quality of Life report, we found that 81% of survey respondents hadn’t had conversations with others outside of their families about planning for their health and aged care needs. This suggests that some Kiwis could benefit from speaking to others, such as healthcare specialists, to learn about their options.
Where can you find help and resources in New Zealand?
If you’re ready to start planning, the first and most important step is to have an open conversation with your family and your GP. They can help you communicate your wishes and guide you on what’s most important to include.
For official guides and templates, MyACP is a helpful resource to keep up-to-date with the nationally recognised forms and step-by-step instructions to record your preferences.
If you’d like to learn more about advance care planning in general, the Health Quality & Safety Commission (HQSC) website offers clear background information, including why planning ahead matters and how it can help your loved ones.
You can also reach out to your local hospice or Age Concern branch. Many have trained facilitators or free resources to help you through the process in a supportive and practical way.
Taking these steps now may make a difficult time easier for those you care about.
Finally, always send your most recent plan to your healthcare providers, power of attorney, and close family. This will ensure the right parties have the information they need when the time comes. For extra peace of mind, consider requesting a quote for Seniors Funeral Insurance – helping cover final expenses so your loved ones aren’t left with the financial burden.
This article provides general information and is not a substitute for legal or medical advice. For specific legal guidance, consult a lawyer. For medical advice and to discuss your health preferences, speak with your doctor or healthcare team.
19 Oct 2025