“Plan in a Can” Simplifies Planning for Incapacity

When it comes to planning for the unexpected, legal documents are essential, but they’re just one piece of a larger puzzle. Conversations about your values, your wishes, and your personal needs are equally important. That’s why you need to know about Plan in a Can, an innovative project gaining attention in healthcare settings and among people who are planning for the realities of aging and incapacity.

Originally launched by the Northeast Georgia Health System as part of its Advance Care Planning program, Plan in a Can is exactly what it sounds like: a recycled tennis can that becomes a portable holder for your most important health and personal information in case of an emergency.

At first glance, the idea may seem overly simple. But in a true emergency, especially an unplanned one, simplicity matters. Emergency medical services (EMS) professionals and hospital staff often need quick access to two kinds of information:

1. Your wishes for medical care

2. Your personal needs once you arrive at the hospital

That’s where the Plan in a Can comes in.

What Goes Inside a Plan in a Can?

The contents of your Plan in a Can are tailored to you. It should be things that matter most if you were suddenly unable to speak for yourself. Examples include:

• A copy of your Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare

• An updated list of medications

• Contact information for your healthcare agent or family members

• Personal items such as glasses, hearing aids, eye drops, or a phone charger

• Anything else that would make your hospital stay less stressful

Though the concept is straightforward, its impact is profound. Your Plan in a Can gives EMS a reliable place to look for the information they need, and it gives you peace of mind knowing critical information is ready if (or when) it’s needed.

Why Planning for Incapacity Matters to Families

Advance directives and healthcare powers of attorney (collectively known as the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare in our state) are cornerstones of incapacity planning, and for good reason. They ensure that your medical decisions reflect your values, even if you can’t communicate them yourself.

But even fully executed legal documents don’t help if no one can find them in an emergency. That’s a real challenge many families face. Your health-related emergency will create chaos, uncertainty, and stress for your loved ones at a time when they should be focused on care and support.

The Plan in a Can bridges that gap. It physically places your wishes where emergency responders and healthcare providers can quickly find them, often on top of the refrigerator, a location EMS first responders are trained to check.

This idea echoes a bigger truth in advance care planning: Documents matter, but accessibility matters, too. A perfectly drafted advance directive is only useful if it can be located and understood when it counts most.

More Than a Container; A Conversation Starter

Perhaps the greatest value of a Plan in a Can is not what’s inside the can, but the discussion it prompts.

Creating a Plan in a Can starts with thinking about what matters most to you. It encourages conversations with the people you trust. Research shows that these conversations help loved ones feel more confident and less conflicted when making decisions on your behalf. After all, the Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare is just one part of a broader, ongoing conversation about your healthcare goals, values, and preferences.

Kimbrough Law Can Help You Plan Ahead

As trusted advisors in elder law and estate planning, we understand that proper planning reduces confusion and provides peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

If the idea of something as simple as a Plan in a Can resonates, it’s a sign you’re thinking in the right direction, not just about documents, but about clarity, communication, and dignity.

Kimbrough Law is here to help you:

• Understand and complete your Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare

• Name your healthcare agent

• Start meaningful conversations with your family

• Explore additional tools and planning options

  
  

Your legal plan and your healthcare plan should work together. Kimbrough Law can help you make sure that your plans are complete, accessible, and aligned with your values.

Call Kimbrough Law at 706.850.6910 to get started.