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Understanding Advance Care Planning From the moment you are born plans are being made for you. From your baptism or name day to birthdays and your first day at school. We look forward to these occasions with excitement and anticipation, as we should. We plan our holidays, anniversaries, weddings and dinner parties. One thing however that many people still don't plan for is getting sick. This subject is often a difficult one with many cultural & religious issues or even superstition and plain old fear. Often family are overwhelmed if a loved one becomes critically ill not knowing what the person's wishes are or would be. Many decisions may have to be made, some very quickly and under stressful conditions. Decisions that may have a lasting impact on the patient and family depending on the outcome and individual situation.
It all sounds a bit depressing and mildly terrifying doesn't it? But once you make the decision to sit down with loved ones and have the "talk" then engage in the help of the appropriate health professional to explain all your options and how to make those difficult but informed decisions, completing an Advanced Health Directive will suddenly make as much sense as when you took out that life insurance policy or to protect your income! At least this way you get to have a say in your own care, you'd want to be able to do that, right? Pick comfort and safety and humility for yourself and those you love. Let's face it as humans we like to have a say in just about everything so why not our own individual care needs? A lot of people think that if they complete a "Living Will" or an "Advanced Care Plan" that they are somehow inviting death into their lives. In life we are born, some of us will get sick, but all of us will eventually die. Its really up to you if you want to decide how and under what circumstances if it comes to it. Think of it as just another insurance policy? |
An Advance Health Directive will give you the power to make decisions even if you are not able to speak or communicate. It will be followed to the letter of the law and respected by family and medical professionals.
It will ensure you are given the most comfortable and respectful treatment, which will benefit you and your family and friends. Its all in place for your benefit to make the process better for you, in every way possible. There are often great differences in the types of care you receive as a normal patient to one with a health directive so please give this some serious thought. The people working in this field have been trained especially in the high care situations that arise and are usually flawless at taking care of the patient and family throughout the process of care, from end of life care through to hospice and palliative care where often the patient may improve and the service will not be needed until another time, which does happen. In my experience they are very special people with very high levels of empathy and they see to all your needs. This is often not something that a mainstream hospital ward can provide, so careful consideration should be given to this subject matter. Make sure you discuss all your needs with your family, including organ and tissue donation so that you may live on through others in the event of your death and be a Hero to the many whose lives you touch. Let your say, be the last say! Editor Melissa Dumitru You can go directly to the website for Palliative Care Australia - Here or scroll down the page for specifics to get you started. |
Planning for future care
If you were very unwell and not able to communicate your preferences to others, who would you want to speak for you? What would you want them to say?
Advance care planning helps to ensure that your loved ones and your doctors know what your health and personal preferences really are. That can give everyone some peace of mind.
If you were very unwell and not able to communicate your preferences to others, who would you want to speak for you? What would you want them to say?
Advance care planning helps to ensure that your loved ones and your doctors know what your health and personal preferences really are. That can give everyone some peace of mind.
Why is advance care planning important?
Whatever our age may be, we all have values and preferences related to health and personal care. It’s important to think about these values and preferences, discuss them and write them down in an Advance Care Directive so that your preferences are understood and respected if you were in a situation where you were unable to communicate them yourself.
Advance care planning is particularly important for people who are older and are frail, or people who have a chronic illness, multiple diseases, an early cognitive impairment, or are approaching their end of life.
Advance care planning involves:
appointing a substitute decision-maker
completing an Advance Care Directive
"Planning ahead involves thinking about, talking about and sometimes writing down what you want to happen in the future. Planning ahead makes it easier and less stressful for family members."
Remember that an Advance Care Directive only goes into effect if you are unable make decisions for yourself. If that time ever comes, your Advance Care Directive will guide your loved ones and doctors so that they can make decisions that respect your values and preferences.
Planning is for everyone
Whatever our age may be, we all have values and preferences - and it's important to think about them, discuss them, and write them down in an Advance Care Directive.
Advance care planning is particularly important for people who are older and are frail, or people who have a chronic illness, multiple diseases, an early cognitive impairment, or are approaching their end of life.
When should you make an Advance Care Directive?You should start planning when you're healthy - before there's actually an urgent need for a plan. But having an advance care plan in place becomes particularly significant towards the end of a person's life. Most people die after a chronic illness, not a sudden event so it's important that your Advance Care Directive is ready in case it's required someday.
Recognised by your state or territory
An Advance Care Directive is sometimes known as a living will. It is written by the person themselves.
An Advance Care Directive is a written record of your preferences for future care. The Directive can record your values, life goals and preferred outcomes, or directions about care and treatments. Advance Care Directives can also formally appoint a substitute decision-maker.
Advance Care Directives differ between states and territories. Some state governments have specific forms that you can use. You can learn more about the legal differences by state/territory and requirements by browsing our advance care planning for your state or territory page.
Find advance care planning requirements for your state or territory
Whatever our age may be, we all have values and preferences related to health and personal care. It’s important to think about these values and preferences, discuss them and write them down in an Advance Care Directive so that your preferences are understood and respected if you were in a situation where you were unable to communicate them yourself.
Advance care planning is particularly important for people who are older and are frail, or people who have a chronic illness, multiple diseases, an early cognitive impairment, or are approaching their end of life.
Advance care planning involves:
appointing a substitute decision-maker
completing an Advance Care Directive
"Planning ahead involves thinking about, talking about and sometimes writing down what you want to happen in the future. Planning ahead makes it easier and less stressful for family members."
Remember that an Advance Care Directive only goes into effect if you are unable make decisions for yourself. If that time ever comes, your Advance Care Directive will guide your loved ones and doctors so that they can make decisions that respect your values and preferences.
Planning is for everyone
Whatever our age may be, we all have values and preferences - and it's important to think about them, discuss them, and write them down in an Advance Care Directive.
Advance care planning is particularly important for people who are older and are frail, or people who have a chronic illness, multiple diseases, an early cognitive impairment, or are approaching their end of life.
When should you make an Advance Care Directive?You should start planning when you're healthy - before there's actually an urgent need for a plan. But having an advance care plan in place becomes particularly significant towards the end of a person's life. Most people die after a chronic illness, not a sudden event so it's important that your Advance Care Directive is ready in case it's required someday.
Recognised by your state or territory
An Advance Care Directive is sometimes known as a living will. It is written by the person themselves.
An Advance Care Directive is a written record of your preferences for future care. The Directive can record your values, life goals and preferred outcomes, or directions about care and treatments. Advance Care Directives can also formally appoint a substitute decision-maker.
Advance Care Directives differ between states and territories. Some state governments have specific forms that you can use. You can learn more about the legal differences by state/territory and requirements by browsing our advance care planning for your state or territory page.
Find advance care planning requirements for your state or territory
GET STARTED
Advance care planning is a routine part of a person's health care. When a person's values are discussed openly, their healthcare preferences can be respected at a time when they cannot voice their decisions. It's an ongoing process that needs cooperation between individuals, their families, care workers, and health professionals as well as community organisations and healthcare organisations.
Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program that provides information and resources to individuals, care workers and healthcare professionals to improve this cooperation. Find out more about Advance Care Planning Australia.
Free advance care planning email starter pack.
Is living well important to you?
Do you like to be prepared for future events, but life sometimes gets in the way?
We can help. We’ll send you a free advance care planning starter pack.
You’ll get the basic facts about advance care planning, and we’ll direct you to the forms for your state or territory.
Simply enter your email address and your state or territory.
Easy! Be sure to respond to the confirmation email to make sure we can reach you!
Order the pack here
Advance care planning is a routine part of a person's health care. When a person's values are discussed openly, their healthcare preferences can be respected at a time when they cannot voice their decisions. It's an ongoing process that needs cooperation between individuals, their families, care workers, and health professionals as well as community organisations and healthcare organisations.
Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program that provides information and resources to individuals, care workers and healthcare professionals to improve this cooperation. Find out more about Advance Care Planning Australia.
Free advance care planning email starter pack.
Is living well important to you?
Do you like to be prepared for future events, but life sometimes gets in the way?
We can help. We’ll send you a free advance care planning starter pack.
You’ll get the basic facts about advance care planning, and we’ll direct you to the forms for your state or territory.
Simply enter your email address and your state or territory.
Easy! Be sure to respond to the confirmation email to make sure we can reach you!
Order the pack here
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Conversation Starters - Be open | Be ready | Be heard
Around four in ten people will not be able to make their own end-of-life medical decisions, so we need to be prepared. If a person's treatment preferences are not known, doctors may use aggressive treatments that the person might not have wanted - and families may feel burdened by the worry that they will make a wrong choice. So you shouldn't be afraid to raise the subject! Planning for the future is a normal part of life. Yet less than 15% of Australians have documented their preferences. |
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You might want to discuss your own Advance Care Directive with others. Or perhaps you want to talk to family and carers about their own healthcare preferences, especially if they are diagnosed with a serious illness or getting older.
How to start the conversation
To get started, choose a quiet setting where you have a lot of time, so you know that you won't be interrupted. Be patient and take your time: you and your loved ones might need a few moments to think.
Sometimes you might get a bit sidetracked and that's okay. Let the conversation happen naturally. You don't need to talk about everything all at once. Remember that advance care planning is an ongoing conversation.
Starting the conversation can be the hardest part, so here are a few ways to begin:
To get started, choose a quiet setting where you have a lot of time, so you know that you won't be interrupted. Be patient and take your time: you and your loved ones might need a few moments to think.
Sometimes you might get a bit sidetracked and that's okay. Let the conversation happen naturally. You don't need to talk about everything all at once. Remember that advance care planning is an ongoing conversation.
Starting the conversation can be the hardest part, so here are a few ways to begin:
How do I get started?
An Advance Care Directive answers the question, 'What would I want to happen if I couldn't speak for myself?'
Advance care planning doesn’t need to be complicated, but it’s important to be open, be ready and be heard. It’s about starting sometimes difficult conversations with families and close friends.
Following this information will help you to communicate your decisions to the staff caring for you. It will help your substitute decision-maker to better understand your healthcare preferences and to make the choices you want.
An Advance Care Directive answers the question, 'What would I want to happen if I couldn't speak for myself?'
Advance care planning doesn’t need to be complicated, but it’s important to be open, be ready and be heard. It’s about starting sometimes difficult conversations with families and close friends.
Following this information will help you to communicate your decisions to the staff caring for you. It will help your substitute decision-maker to better understand your healthcare preferences and to make the choices you want.
Advance Care Planning Australia
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Events (scroll down the page to locate)
Advance Care Planning Seminar - Melbourne Well-coordinated and appropriate person-centred care is a key priority. It's becoming increasingly important for the healthcare sector to better understand advance care planning. Health care professionals across sectors are invited to attend this one-day seminar to learn about and discuss the systemic implementation of advance care planning. ONLINE LEARNING Advanced Care Planning Australia Learning Advance Care Planning Australia (ACPA) Learning is a national eLearning hub to support aged care workers, health professionals and the general public to learn more about advance care planning in primary care settings, implementation, for people affected by dementia, and more. Click Here Latest advance care planning news. NEWS - Here Forms & Factsheets for your state - Here |
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Next: go to our Palliative Care pages - Here
