Speak Up about your own care at the end of the day

What would happen if suddenly, one day out of the blue you were unable to communicate or care for yourself? How would you or your loved ones cope? Who would speak on your behalf or make the critical and necessary health and financial decisions in your stead? If you do not readily have the answers to these questions then you might want to read further. There is no six-second hotline to heaven and the end of life does not do anyone the favour of making a courtesy call before it shows up. It also certainly does not play the age discrimination card.

Did you know? According to Advance Care Planning Canada:

• 86 per cent of Canadians have not heard of advance care planning
• Less than half have had a discussion with a family member or friend about healthcare treatments if they were ill and unable to communicate
• Only 9 per cent had ever spoken to a healthcare provider about their wishes for care
• Over 80 per cent of Canadians do not have a written plan
• Only 46 per cent have designated a Substitute Decision Maker – someone to speak on their behalf if they could not communicate

If you are a caregiver or a substitute decision maker, wouldn’t it offer you peace of mind to know that the person you are responsible for looking after has taken care of putting an advance care plan in place? This discussion is not one that most people have over a beverage or dinner with family and friends on a Friday night because it is a hard subject to bring up. So to help you get the conversation started, here are some great tips and access to countless valuable resources from Advance Care Planning Canada on how to begin.

When someone is nearing the end of their life is not the time to start the discussion, it is about having the conversation when they are of sound mind and body. Organizing and compiling documents, arranging for such things as living wills, powers of attorney for medical and financial affairs, having a properly drafted and current will, etc., helps to significantly reduce one’s anxiety, fear, and confusion and most importantly allows family members the time and energy necessary and sorely needed to attend to their loved ones in their final days.

So on April 16, Speak Up across Canada and let us all help to get the conversations started!