I Am Living

What is Advanced Care planning?

Advance care planning involves planning for future medical treatment and healthcare needs. It’s a process of reflection, discussion, and communication that allows a person to make decisions about their future medical treatment and other care options while they are still capable of communicating.

Why is Advanced Care planning important?

None of us know what will happen in the future or can predict what might happen with our health.

Advanced care planning helps families and health care teams understand the type of care that is aligned with a personʼs values, wishes and preferences. It is particularly helpful when that person is unable to make and/or communicate their own decisions. When facing a life-limiting condition, advanced care planning gives families, healthcare teams and medical professionals clarity and control over what sorts of medical care to provide, defining preferences for medical treatment and personal care.

What is an Advanced Care Directive?

Making an Advance Care Directive is an integral part of advance care planning. An Advanced Care Directive is a legally binding statement or document that outlines a personʼs future healthcare wishes and preferences and provides instruction for future medical treatment or healthcare in the event that they lose capacity to make or communicate decisions. Medical professionals and loved ones can rely on this legally-binding document as a guide for honouring a personʼs wishes regarding their care.

What are the components of an Advanced Care Directive?

Treatment Preferences: Advanced Care Directives outline specific medical treatments that we wish to receive or decline under certain circumstances. For instance, a person may specify their preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments such as CPR, mechanical ventilation, or artificial nutrition.

Appointment of a substitute decision maker: We also have the option of designating a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on our behalf, often referred to as a healthcare proxy or agent. Ideally, this person should understand the patientʼs individual preferences and values and be able to effectively advocate on their behalf.

Quality of life considerations: We may also specify our preferred quality of life factors in Advanced Care Directives, such as pain management preferences, spiritual care, cultural and social needs, and emotional support. In doing so, we can ensure that medical care aligns with our holistic wellbeing, focussing on the whole person, rather than the medical condition and its physical symptoms.

The benefits of an Advanced Care Directive

Respecting autonomy: Advanced Care Directives are designed to safeguard autonomy and a personʼs right to self-determination, even when we are no longer capable of articulating and expressing our wishes. By documenting our end-of-life care preferences in advance, we can ensure that carersʼ decisions are based on our goals, values, beliefs and noted wishes.

Reducing family burden: Having clear directives eliminates the burden placed on our family members who may have to make difficult decisions regarding the care of a loved one. Giving explicit instructions spares families the pain of having to make difficult choices without guidance and live with the consequences of these decisions.

Ensuring consistency of care: The purpose of Advance Care Directives is to ensure that healthcare providers understand and adhere to the wishes of the individual. Keeping family members and medical professionals informed minimises the likelihood of misunderstandings or conflicts.

How to create an Advanced Care Directive

Reflection, communication, and documentation are all part of the process of creating an Advanced Care Directive. Here are steps to consider:

Consider Personal Values, Care Goals and Preferences:Think about values, beliefs, and preferences regarding care and end-of-life care.

Talk with Loved Ones: Be open and honest with loved ones and healthcare providers about wishes and preferences. In the event that other people have to make decisions about our end-of-life care, this will inform their decision-making and help to relieve them of stress.

Obtain legal and medical advice: Advance care planning information and documentation is available online (see state and territory links below). Additionally, consulting a legal professional will ensure that documentation has been drafted in accordance with state or territory laws. Medical professionals can help to explain end-of-life medical choices available in a state/territory. General Practitioners are a good starting point for learning about how various treatment options can affect health.

Document and distribute: Once the Advanced Care Directive is complete, make sure it is shared with family members and healthcare providers.

An Advanced Care Directive is an invaluable tool for ensuring that our wishes and preferences are respected. With advanced planning and a trusted decision-maker/proxy in place, end-of-life decisions can be made with clarity and trust, with the peace of mind knowing that oneʼs wishes have been clearly articulated and communicated, and therefore will be respected.

See here for information:

New South Wales https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan-nsw

ACT https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan-act

Victoria https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-planvic

Tasmania https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-pla n-tas

South Australia https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan-sa

Western Australia https://advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan-wa

Northern Territory https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-plan -nt

Queensland https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/create-your-plan/create-your-p lan-qld