Advance Care PlanningSelf-determination, choice and control over current and future decisions is a right and central to human dignity. We believe your rights and wishes are important and should be respected, which is why having an Advance Care Plan or Directive matters.
In certain situations, a doctor may use aggressive treatments that you might not want and your family may be burdened by the worry of having made a wrong choice. Planning is a normal part of life. Conversations about values, beliefs, health, and preferences can take time. They are especially important if someone has been diagnosed with a serious illness. An Advance Care Plan is not just for older people in our community, but for everyone. We often think we know what someone would want, but unless we have these conversations we can lack confidence or experience doubt and worry. There is a process for you to document your preferences for care, your values, wishes, and appoint a substitute decision maker who can act on your behalf. This would only be required when you are not in a position to make your own decisions. It is very difficult to make clear and rational decisions during a crisis when individuals are emotionally upset. This is why we feel that having an Advance Care Plan is not just important for you, but for your loved ones as well. By having conversations when you are well and have the ability to participate in a discussion, means someone can be involved in decisions about your care with greater confidence. An Advance Care Directive can help reduced your loved ones potential risk of regret, and the possible burden of grief, that could result from thinking about a decisions they made and worrying if it was truly what you wanted. If you would like some more information or would like to start a discussion with some support, we can help. We have nurses trained in palliative care who can provide you with information or facilitate a conversation. |
Advance Care Planning is thinking about documenting your preferences for future health care. You can access more information and resources by clicking the button below:
Access to the Statement of Choices Forms is via the buttons below and our clinical team are available to assist.
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