Advance Care Plans in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Advance care planning helps the people closest to you in Grand Rapids understand what matters most to you if you become too sick or injured to make your own medical decisions. By talking about and writing down your wishes for future care, you make it easier for your chosen medical decision maker to honor your values and feel confident about the choices they make on your behalf.

In West Michigan, where unexpected winter accidents, chronic conditions, and serious illnesses are common concerns, having an advance care plan is an important part of protecting your health and your family’s peace of mind.

What Is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning is the process of:

  • Thinking about your wishes for future medical care and quality of life
  • Talking with your family, close friends, and healthcare providers
  • Choosing someone you trust to make medical decisions if you can’t
  • Writing your wishes down in a legally recognized document

In Grand Rapids, your advance care plan will guide local healthcare teams at places like Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health if you are unable to speak for yourself.

Why Advance Care Planning Matters in Grand Rapids, MI

Living in Grand Rapids means dealing with:

  • Cold, icy winters – higher risk of falls, car accidents, and sudden injuries
  • Chronic health conditions common in Michigan – such as heart disease, diabetes, lung disease
  • An aging population – many families caring for older parents or grandparents

Advance care planning helps ensure that if a serious illness, stroke, accident, or advanced dementia affects your ability to decide, your care still reflects your values, beliefs, and preferences.

Key Steps in Advance Care Planning

1. Think About Your Wishes for Future Care

Start by asking yourself:

  • What does “quality of life” mean to me?
  • How important are independence and being able to live at home in Grand Rapids?
  • How do I feel about life support, breathing machines, or feeding tubes?
  • Would I want every possible treatment to extend my life, or would I prioritize comfort and dignity?
  • Where would I prefer to receive end-of-life care – at home, in a hospital (such as Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids), or in a hospice facility?

Consider your current health conditions and what might happen in the future. Think about what would matter most if you were seriously ill or nearing the end of life.

2. Have the Conversation

Talk to Your Family and Loved Ones

Share your thoughts with those closest to you:

  • Explain what kind of care you would want if you were very sick
  • Talk about what scares you or worries you about medical treatment
  • Let them know what brings you comfort – faith, family, music, being at home, or being pain-free

These conversations can be emotional and difficult, but they are crucial. They help your family make decisions that are consistent with your wishes and reduce conflict or guilt later on.

Talk to Your Doctor and Care Team

Discuss your wishes with your:

  • Primary care physician in Grand Rapids
  • Specialists (cardiologist, oncologist, pulmonologist, etc.)
  • Palliative care or hospice team, if involved

Some useful questions to explore with your doctor:

  • What do I need to know about my condition?
  • What might I expect in the future as my illness progresses?
  • What treatments could help me live longer, and what are the side effects?
  • How will these treatments affect my independence and comfort?
  • If all my goals can’t be met, what trade-offs am I willing to make (for example, more time vs. more comfort)?

Your doctor can help you understand your options and document your wishes in your medical record at local systems like Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, or Mercy Health.

3. Choose a Medical Treatment Decision Maker

A medical treatment decision maker (often called a “healthcare proxy,” “patient advocate,” or “durable power of attorney for healthcare” in Michigan) is the person you legally authorize to make medical decisions if you cannot.

Consider choosing someone who:

  • Is at least 18 years old
  • Knows you well and understands your values
  • Is willing to speak up for you and be a strong advocate
  • Can stay calm and make decisions under stress
  • Will follow your wishes even if others disagree
  • Is not your paid caregiver or a healthcare provider directly responsible for your care

Talk to the person you’re considering:

  • Ask if they are willing to take on the role
  • Share your values, priorities, and specific treatment preferences
  • Make sure they understand that their job is to honor your wishes and act in your best interests

You will need to complete the appropriate Michigan advance directive / durable power of attorney for healthcare form and sign it in front of two qualified witnesses. Your medical treatment decision maker cannot be one of the witnesses.

For reliable Michigan-specific forms and guidance, visit:

  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
  • Kent County Health Department
  • Grand Rapids Public Health resources

4. Write Your Wishes in an Advance Care Directive

An advance care directive (often part of a Michigan advance directive or patient advocate designation) is a written, legally recognized document that records your wishes for future medical care. Healthcare providers and your medical decision maker must consider it when making decisions on your behalf.

Your advance care directive can include:

Values Directive

This section explains your beliefs, values, and what matters most to you. It may include statements like:

  • “If I am unable to recognize my family or communicate, I do not want medical treatment that only prolongs my life.”
  • “If I am dying, I want to be kept comfortable and free of pain, even if that may shorten my life.”
  • “I would prefer to be cared for at home in Grand Rapids if possible, with hospice support.”
  • “Being able to interact with my family and enjoy simple activities is more important to me than living as long as possible with severe disability.”

You should include anything that is important to you or that you are worried about, such as:

  • Pain control and comfort
  • Maintaining dignity and privacy
  • Staying at home vs. being in a hospital or nursing facility
  • Spiritual or religious practices
  • Support from your faith community or local Grand Rapids resources

Instructional Directive

This section includes specific instructions about medical treatments you would accept or refuse, such as:

  • Whether you would want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops
  • Whether you would want to be put on a breathing machine (ventilator)
  • Whether you would want tube feeding or IV fluids if you cannot eat or drink
  • Whether you consent to certain surgeries or treatments only under specific circumstances

For example:

  • “I refuse CPR in any circumstance.”
  • “I consent to a heart bypass operation only if my doctors believe I have a good chance of returning to independent living.”

You should review these choices with your doctor to make sure they are medically clear and accurately recorded.

5. Make Sure Your Advance Care Directive Is Valid in Michigan

In Michigan, there is no single mandatory form, but your advance directive must meet state legal requirements. It can be:

  • A letter you write, as long as it clearly states your wishes and meets witness requirements
  • A standard Michigan advance directive or durable power of attorney for healthcare form
  • A form provided by your primary care clinic, hospital, or legal advisor

To ensure your document is valid:

  • Follow Michigan’s rules for signing and witnessing
  • Use up-to-date forms from trusted sources such as MDHHS or reputable Michigan health systems
  • Consider consulting an attorney if you have complex wishes or questions

Even if you do not complete a formal legal document, anything you write down about your future care can still be very helpful to your medical treatment decision maker and your healthcare team.

6. Share Your Advance Care Directive

Once your advance care directive and medical treatment decision maker form are completed and signed:

  1. Keep the original in a safe but accessible place (not a locked safe deposit box).
  2. Give copies to:
    • Your medical treatment decision maker
    • Close family members or friends
    • Your primary care doctor in Grand Rapids
    • Any specialists involved in your care
    • Local hospitals you are most likely to use (e.g., Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health)

Ask your doctor’s office and hospital to:

  • Scan your advance directive into your electronic medical record
  • Place an alert in your chart so staff know you have an advance care plan

You can also upload your documents to any secure patient portals offered by your local health system to make them easier for providers to find in an emergency.

7. Review and Update Your Plan Regularly

You can review and change your advance care directive at any time. It’s important to revisit your wishes when your life or health changes, such as:

  • You are hospitalized for a serious or ongoing illness
  • Your condition worsens or becomes unstable
  • You are diagnosed with a new serious illness
  • You or your family begin discussing palliative care or hospice
  • You decide you want to refuse or limit life-sustaining treatment
  • Your chosen decision maker is no longer able or willing to serve

If you make changes:

  • Talk with your medical treatment decision maker, family, and doctor
  • Complete new documents if needed
  • Give updated copies to everyone who had the old version
  • Ask your healthcare providers and local hospitals in Grand Rapids to replace the old version in your medical record

Local Grand Rapids Resources for Advance Care Planning

If you live in Grand Rapids or Kent County, you can get help with advance care planning from:

  • Your primary care provider (GP/family doctor) – first point of contact to discuss your wishes
  • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health – many offer social workers, care managers, or palliative care teams who can help with forms and conversations
  • Kent County Health Department – information on local health resources and support services
  • Local hospice and palliative care programs in West Michigan – guidance on end-of-life care planning
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) – state-approved information and forms for advance directives

Key Points to Remember

  • Consider appointing someone you trust as your medical treatment decision maker (healthcare proxy/patient advocate).
  • Think carefully about your values and what kind of care you would want if you could not speak for yourself.
  • Write your wishes down in an advance care directive that meets Michigan’s legal requirements.
  • Sign the appropriate forms in front of two qualified witnesses; your decision maker cannot be one of them.
  • Include anything that matters to you—fears, worries, values, and specific treatments you would accept or refuse.
  • Share copies with your decision maker, family, doctor, and local hospitals in Grand Rapids.
  • Review and update your advance care directive whenever your health or circumstances change.

Planning ahead may feel uncomfortable, but it is one of the most important gifts you can give your loved ones—and yourself—here in Grand Rapids, Michigan.