Advance Care Planning
Who will speak for you if you are unable to speak for yourself?
Advance Care Planning helps ensure your voice is heard, gives you peace of mind, and guides your loved ones during tough times.
ACP is a vital step in ensuring that your healthcare wishes and preferences are respected and honored, especially in challenging situations. Open and honest communication is promoted among family members and healthcare providers, fostering a shared understanding of the your healthcare goals.
​Cowichan Hospice offers free, in-person, Advance Care Planning workshops, usually held in two sessions over two days. Participants are led through the process of thinking about and writing down their health care instructions and appointing a representative to make health care decisions for them in the event they are unable to speak for themselves.
Topics Advance Care Planning may cover:
-
Medical Treatment Preferences - Allows individuals to specify their preferences for specific medical treatments, such as resuscitation, life-sustaining interventions (e.g., ventilators), and surgeries.
-
End-of-Life Care - Individuals can outline their preferences for end-of-life care, including decisions about hospice care, palliative care, and where they would like to receive care (e.g., at home or in a medical facility).
-
Healthcare Proxy - Advanced care planning helps individuals designate a healthcare proxy or surrogate decision-maker who can make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated.
-
Financial and Legal Matters - While not directly related to healthcare, advanced care planning may also involve discussions about financial and legal matters, such as the management of assets and the designation of an executor for the estate.
-
Funeral and Burial Arrangements - Some advanced care plans include instructions or preferences for funeral and burial arrangements, including cremation or traditional burial.
-
Family and Caregiver Communication - Advanced care planning can facilitate conversations with family members and caregivers, reducing potential conflicts and ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding the individual's healthcare goals.
I never thought about my future health care wishes before. I am ready to talk to my family about what is important to me.
I want my doctor to know who I am as a person, not just as a patient.
Click Here for additional community and online resources
For more information about Advance Care Planning workshops, call 250-701-4242 or email frontdesk@cowichanhospice.org.
All services are free, confidential, and available to anyone in the Cowichan region.
