Advance Care Planning
THINK about it, TALK about it, SHARE it.
None of us know what tomorrow will bring, or can predict what might become of our health. But there is a way to ensure you will have a say in health care decisions that lie ahead, should there come a time when you are unable to speak for yourself. It’s called Advance Care Planning.
- Think about it. Think about your values and beliefs. When you plan for your future health care, you need to think about your values and beliefs, as well as your personal goals. In order to prepare yourself for advance care planning conversations, write down your thoughts and answer the questions in our workbook.
- Talk about it. Talk about what’s important. Discussing your treatment wishes with loved ones may be an uncomfortable conversation, but it will help reduce pressure and stress during an already challenging time. Its worth the conversation.
- Share it with our health care proxies, family, close friends and health care providers. “It’s how we care for each other.”
Prairie Mountain Health has revitalized our advance care planning policy and forms. These are important documents to fill out to take care of your health in case of an untoward event that you are unable to communicate. Advance care planning forms can be used in facilities in the absence of a health care directive, where the team follows the policy to determine who to speak to, to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to communicate your health care choices.
Did you know the new advance care planning document can be used as a health care directive in the community setting, as long as it is signed by yourself and you state in the appropriate section you want the advance care plan form to be your health care directive.
Three goals of care categories to choose from when making your health care choices;
- Level C, comfort care. This means care and interventions are directed at maximal comfort, symptom control and maintenance of quality of life, excluding attempted resuscitation.
- Level M which means medical care. Medical care are for care and control of your condition. Appropriate treatment and investigations will be offered excluding attempted resuscitation.
- Level R which means resuscitation. Resuscitative care means any appropriate treatment and investigations will be offered including attempted resuscitation.
As of Age 16
Anyone can legally make your own health care choices and assign others to make choices for you if you are not able to, they are called your health care proxy.
Have you even thought about what you would do in the event you could not make informed decisions or communicate what health care treatments you wanted?
None of us know what tomorrow will bring or can predict what might become of our health. But there is a way to ensure you have a say in health care decisions that lie ahead, should there come a time when you are unable to speak for yourself. It’s called Advanced Care Planning.
THINK about it, TALK about it, SHARE it.
It’s how we care for each other.
Consult your health care team as in the end the choice is up to you!