Advance Care Planning
Many people find it helpful to talk about their values, goals and wishes with their care team, especially when considering their health.
This is called Advance Care Planning.
Maybe a better word for this would be Future Care Planning.
Although it might sound daunting, this type of conversation helps people feel more at ease and in control of their healthcare journey. It also helps your healthcare team make treatment recommendations that align with these wishes.
It is important to talk about this when you are doing okay so that the best decisions can be made during crises. Including your family or loved ones in this conversation is also helpful. It will help prepare them to make decisions for you if you can’t make them at some point in the future.
If it feels too hard to start this conversation, it would be something a Palliative Care team can help facilitate between you, your loved ones and the rest of your healthcare team.
Start the conversation
If you want to start the conversation independently, this link will guide you through the The Association of Palliative Care Centres.
- What additional information about your illness and what is likely to be ahead would be helpful for you to know?
- What else do you need to know to help you make decisions about your future?
- Most people value quality of life. What does that look like for you?
- What do you worry about when thinking about your illness?
- What kinds of medical care do you not want?
- What do you think it would be like to share these thoughts with your family?
- If you haven’t already identified a health care proxy, who would be able to fill that role?