Advance Care Planning
Three local Health Networks in the SEMPHN catchment offer Advance Care Planning services. There are several useful online tools as well.
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance Care Planning is the process by which individuals discuss their wishes and preferences in regards to their healthcare with their family and health care providers.
Advance Care Directives are an individual’s record of these wishes and preferences and are legal documents. Experts in Advance Care Planning recommend that an individual has a Directive to ensure that their wishes and preferences are respected.
Benefits of Advance Care Planning:
- A person continues to have a say in their medical care, even when they lose that physical or mental capacity
- People are comforted knowing they are more likely to receive treatment they want, and not receive the treatment they would not want
- Carers and family can make decisions knowing their loved ones choices
- The conversation itself can strengthen relationships between family, carers and friends.
People often need help to develop an Advance Care Plan that will guide their medical treatment and care.
Health professionals should encourage people to upload their ACPs and Advance Directives to their My Health Record. Instructions are on the My Health Record website.
Advance Care Planning Australia provides online and face to face training for health professionals, including Practice Nurses and GPs.
The Department of Health and Human Services provides information and resources.
Where is there help for people with Advance Care Planning?
The local hospital networks provide Advance Care Planning (ACP) services, which help individuals to write their Advance Care Directive. Individuals can refer themselves, or be referred by a health service.
Other help with Advance Care Planning:
Useful tools online include:
Advance Care Planning Australia
Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, helping people make the best choices for their life and health care.
My Values website
The MyValues website is a set of specially constructed statements designed to help people identify, consider and communicate their wishes about the medical treatment they would want in the later stages of life.
Planning ahead – Start2Talk
Dementia Australia’s Planning ahead – Start2Talk website provides Advance Care Planning resources and help for people, or carers and health professionals caring for, with dementia.
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