Have a voice in your future health care now, in case you can’t speak for your self later. That’s the message the Desert Valley Hospice Society and Interior Health want you to hear at a free public presentation in support of National Advance Care Planning Day.
But what is advance care planning? Simply put, advance care planning gives you a say about the health care you would like to receive if you get very sick and are unable to speak for yourself. No one knows what the future holds; a health crisis can happen at any time.
“We’re encouraging people to be prepared,” says Janet Shaw, President of the Desert Valley Hospice Society. “Advance care planning is a gift you are giving to your family because it takes the guess work out of the picture.”
Research indicates that people who have end-of-life planning conversations with their doctors and family members are more likely to be satisfied with their care, require fewer aggressive interventions at the end of life, place less of a strain on caregivers, and are more likely to take advantage of hospice resources or die at home.
Whether it’s starting the conversation with a loved one, or re-visiting your own plan, there are many tools available to help guide you. Judy Nicol, Leader of IH’s Advance Care Planning Initiative will cover these topics; the event also includes a panel discussion with health-care professionals who will be available to answer your questions.