Bereavement Support Line 1800 80 70 77 Main Navigation Donate I Want To Think Ahead Home > I Need Help > I Want To Think Ahead There may come a time when you have to rely on someone else to care for you and act on your behalf. This can happen at any stage in life because of illness, an accident or mental distress. Before this happens, it’s comforting to record your wishes and values about your care and treatment for those who need to know. Think Ahead will help you think about the care you would agree to and/or the care you would refuse if you ever need to. This is your opportunity to talk about your wishes openly and record them. Through Think Ahead, you can start conversations with those who matter most to you. Take your time. Think about what you want. Talk through your wishes with someone you trust, like a friend, partner or relative. Let them know you would like them to speak on your behalf if need be. Choosing someone to speak with now means that they will come to know your wishes and that there will be fewer surprises or hard decisions for them to make later on. If you don’t want to choose someone to speak for you, you can discuss your wishes with a healthcare worker, GP/Specialist, or note them down in your Think Ahead document and leave with someone you trust. Quick links: Download Think Ahead Order Think Ahead Dying to Talk dictionary Starting the Conversation Advance Care Planning Legal Decisions Healthcare Decisions Personal Decisions Think Ahead for GPs About Me In this section Get Your Think Ahead Form Download or order your Think Ahead form or Think Ahead pack for carers, couples or healthcare workers. How to Fill in Your Think Ahead A step-by-step guide to filling in the form. What is essential and what is optional. Start to Talk Some practical help and guides to help those difficult conversations start to flow. Advance Care Planning Understanding Advance Care Planning and Advance Healthcare Directives Legal Decisions EPAs, wills, legacies, ADMAs all explained in layman's terms. Healthcare Decisions All the considerations for future healthcare including information on Advance Healthcare Directives Personal Decisions Including financial issues, body and organ donation Dying to Talk Dictionary A collection of definitions of terms for planning ahead About Me A checklist of what's important to you when entering a hospital/hospice/nursing home, especially when nearing the end of life Further Resources Think Ahead for GPs If you are you a GP or work in healthcare or support services in Ireland, you can bulk order our Think Ahead forms in quantities of 75. Beginning at The End A series of videos addressing the difficult conversations around end-of-life, helping you support a loved one by beginning the conversation that you’ve never had before. Condition Specific Resources Information booklets for people living with advanced and chronic diseases and conditions A Gift in Your Will Many of us will be in a position to give more in our will than we ever could while we’re alive. Leaving a bequest won’t cost you anything in your lifetime but will impact long into the future and make a huge difference to people’s lives. Facing a Loss When facing an impending loss, you might experience what is known as ‘anticipatory grief’. It typically happens when a loved one is diagnosed with a terminal or life-limiting illness like cancer, dementia, or a chronic disease. Grief doesn't have an end date. If you or someone you know is struggling at this time, we are here to help you. It is free to call our Bereavement Support Line Mon - Fri 10am -1pm 1800 80 70 77 Information Library Research Publications IHF FAQs About Us Who we are Our People Our Board Our Strategy Our Partners Governance Funding & Accountability Annual Report Working in IHF Contact Us Contact Us Form Media Contacts Irish Hospice Foundation Morrison Chambers (Floor 4) 32 Nassau Street Dublin 2 D02 YE06 T: 01 679 3188 E : info@hospicefoundation.ie Terms and Conditions Privacy policy Registered Charity Number: 20013554 CHY 6830 © Irish Hospice Foundation 2020 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. Cookie settingsACCEPTREJECT