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Advanced care planning isn't just for old people!
It is best to start planning when you are well, when you can think clearly and can consider your options.
But it is more important if you have a chronic illness, several diseases, early cognitive impairment or nearing the end of your life.
Once you create an advance care directive document, you will need to visit your local Doctor and have the form signed in front of a witness. It then needs to be distributed to the places where staff may need to refer to it in the future. For example: your Doctor, your local hospital, my gov, your family or medical decision maker.
Advanced care planning isn't just about what medical interventions you would like or not like.
It can also include your thoughts about a perfect death. "Pain free, with classical music quietly playing in the background, and your favourite pet dog next to you"
If you don't write it down, who will know! Start the conversation...
It is created by you, for you. As opposed to an advance care plan where someone creates an end of life care plan for another person who has diminished or no capacity to make decisions themselves. It involves careful consideration of your values, your beliefs and your wishes. It makes your end of life care so much easier for those making the decisions and your health care professionals. It is an invaluable gift.
If you value being pain free, not being a burden on your family, or maintaining dignity then write it down so your family know what you value and what you don't.
"If I am unable to recognise my family and friends and cannot communicate, I do not want any medical treatment to prolong my life." "If I am dying, I would like to be in a comfortable environment surrounded by my friends and family.”
What you believe to be true should be made known. At the end of your life, do you want a priest to carry out the last rites? What is it that you believe and if you are unable to speak for yourself what practices would you like followed. "'I don't follow any religious practices, but I would like to listen to my favourite football team team song while I take my last breaths"
By writing your wishes down in an advanced care directive your family and health care professionals will know what your wishes are. Even if you can't express them yourself.
"If I am able, I wish to donate my organs" "I do not want to cardio pulmonary resuscitation commenced if someone finds me unconscious"
I can show your group how to create their own advanced care directive, and the steps involved. Contact me to book a time with me. Available every Tuesday.
A life box is a container specifically labelled to keep your important documents in. For example, you might have your advanced care directive in this box, along with your emergency contacts, list of medications and medical history or information should you die, your funeral arrangements. even a copy of your will!
When an ambulance is called, and they arrive at your home they will know exactly where to find your advanced care directive.
Why is this important? It is so they know if you wish to be resuscitated or not.
This document will give them direction on how to treat you.
If you are unconscious by the time they arrive, your LIFE BOX sticker will direct them.
A sticker is placed in a prominent place at the entrance of your home to alert them that you have a Life Box in the home. On the back of your entry door will be another sticker to say where the box is located in your home.
It is important the ambulance officers attending know your wishes. Otherwise, they may start treatment on you that you do not wish to have. Ie; CPR.
Scenario: You live at home alone; you wear a personal falls detection alarm. You collapse and are unconscious. Your alarm alerts emergency services and they arrive at your home. They see at the front window you a Life Box. They enter the home, find your advanced care directive in your LIFE BOX and it states you do not wish to be resuscitated. Your wish is not for life saving measures, but to be made comfortable. They administer oxygen, they call your emergency contacts, and they make you comfortable as you slip away, or they transfer you to hospital to be placed in a palliative care ward.
For a small amount of money, you can have peace of mind that your carers know your wishes.
2 X STICKERS FOR THE FRONT AND BACK ENTRANCE OF YOUR HOME
1 X BUMPER STICKER (alerts emergency services you have an ADC in your glovebox)
1 x STICKER TO LABEL YOUR LIFEBOX
1 X STICKER FOR THE BACK OF YOUR DOOR - This sticker tells the ambulance officers where your life box is kept. A texta is also included for you to write the location of your lifebox
1 X ACD STICKER - To label your document folder so it is easily found in your box.
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