Advance Care Planning Week 1-5 April 2019: Planning to live your life, your way, to the very end

Less than 15% of Australians have a documented Advance Care Plan, despite the fact that 50% of people will be too unwell to make their own end-of-life decisions and 85% of people will die after chronic illness, not as a result of a sudden event.

Bethanie, Western Australia’s most recognised not-for-profit aged care and retirement living provider wants to remind seniors and their loved ones that between 1-5 April Australia is celebrating Advance Care Planning Week, the perfect opportunity for people to have ‘the conversation’ with themselves, their loved ones or their doctor about end-of-life planning.

Bethanie CEO Chris How says, “We need to take this opportunity to remind people how important advance care planning is. If you were very unwell and unable to communicate your preferences of care to others, who would you want to speak for you? What healthcare decisions would you want them to make?

“Advance care planning gives people a voice, ensuring they remain in the driver’s seat regardless of what the future brings. It also means family members can have peace of mind, knowing they are honouring and respecting the values and choices made by the individual requiring care.”

Research shows that families of people with an Advance Care Plan have less anxiety and stress when asked to make important healthcare decisions for their loved ones.

Advance care planning is a routine part of every Bethanie customer’s admission to care service. Here is Chris How’s tips for anyone wanting to know where to start:

• Start planning when you’re healthy, before there’s an actual emergency situation.
• Talk about your values, beliefs and preferences with your family, friends, carers and doctors.
• Write your Advance Care Plan and appoint your substitute decision maker. This person will speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself.

For more information call Bethanie on 131 151.