Advance care planning is a process, not an event, and is planning for future care based on a person’s values, beliefs, preferences, and specific medical issues. An advance directive is the record of that process. It is both an umbrella term for defining and expressing how one wants to live and be treated and for state-approved advance directive documents which allow you to specify those things and usually to appoint a person (healthcare power of attorney or health proxy) to speak when you are unable to speak for yourself.
https://www.caringinfo.org/planning/advance-directives/
Advance care planning documents include but are not limited to HIPAA Authorization Forms; Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare; Healthcare Proxy; Durable Power of Attorney for Financial Affairs; Living Wills and Advance Directives.
