Did you know that over 50% of us will be too unwell to make our own end-of-life decisions? Yet only 15% of Australians have documented their preferences.
It’s National Advance Care Planning Week, an annual event in Australia that promotes the importance of advance care planning and encourages you, regardless of age or health status, to start conversations with your loved ones about your future healthcare wishes. This year’s theme is ‘the time is now’ because it may seem hard to find the right time, but National Advance Care Planning Week is an opportunity to start the conversation.
What is advance care planning?
Advance care planning involves making decisions about the type of medical care and treatment you would want to receive if you could not speak for yourself and communicating these wishes to your family, friends, and healthcare providers. This can involve decisions about end-of-life care, such as whether or not to receive life-sustaining treatments like CPR, mechanical ventilation, and artificial nutrition and hydration. Still, it’s okay not to know the answers to these questions. Reflecting on your values, beliefs, and wishes is an excellent place to start.
Here are some examples of my end-of-life preferences.
- I do not want to be in pain.
- Living in my own home isn’t as important as being safe and cared for.
- I will tolerate some intervention and dependence on others, provided I can continue to enjoy my life.
- I would like prayer and religious or spiritual rituals.
While these conversations can be challenging, they are vital in ensuring that your healthcare wishes are respected and that your loved ones are not left in the dark when making decisions on your behalf. Research shows advance care planning can reduce anxiety, depression and stress experienced by families and that they’re more likely to be satisfied with their loved one’s care.
How an end-of-life doula can help with advance care planning
Advance care planning can be challenging and emotional, but having an end-of-life doula can make it more manageable and less daunting.
An end-of-life doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support to individuals and families during the end-of-life process. They can help with advance care planning by guiding you through available options and facilitating conversations about your preferences and values.
Here are some ways an end-of-life doula can help with advance care planning:
- Education and information: End-of-life doulas can provide information about various end-of-life options, such as palliative care, hospice care, and voluntary assisted dying. They can explain options and help you make informed decisions based on your values and goals.
- Facilitation of conversations: Talking about end-of-life care can be challenging for some people. An end-of-life doula can facilitate conversations between family members and healthcare providers, ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding your wishes for end-of-life care.
- Documenting your wishes: An end-of-life doula can help you record your wishes for end-of-life care in an advance directive. They can ensure that your preferences are clearly stated and that everyone who needs to know about them has a copy.
- Emotional support: An end-of-life doula can provide emotional support to you and your family members, helping you navigate difficult conversations and cope with the emotions that arise during this process.
- Continuity of care: An end-of-life doula can help ensure that your wishes for end-of-life care are communicated and respected. They can work with your healthcare providers to meet your wishes and support your loved ones after your passing.
The time is now
If you’re interested in participating in National Advance Care Planning Week, there are a few things you can do to get involved. Firstly, you can start conversing with your loved ones about your healthcare preferences. You can also visit Advance Care Planning Australia to find any events or activities in your local area or access online resources and information to learn more about advance care planning.