On Dying to Know Day Territory Palliative Care is urging Territorians to learn more about advance care planning.

Dying to Know Day aims to encourage Australians to learn about end of life care options, make end of life plans and to share them with their families.

Territory Palliative Care Occupational Therapist Julie Rankin said advance care planning was an on-going process of shared planning for current and future health care. 

“Around 75% of people have not had end of life discussions and less than 10 percent have an Advance Care plan,” Ms Rankin said.

“Advance care planning gives people the opportunity to plan for what they would want or not want, if they become unable to make or communicate their own preferences.

“It helps to ensure that a person’s preferences, beliefs and values about health care are known and respected. It also benefits those who are close to them. Research has shown that families of people who have done advance care planning have less anxiety and stress when asked to make important healthcare decisions for other people.

“Advance care planning improves end-of-life care, and person and family satisfaction with care. Everyone should consider advance care planning, regardless of their age or health. It can be particularly important to individuals such as those with an advanced chronic illness, a life limiting illness, are aged over 55 years or at risk of losing competence."

Advance care planning conversations should be routine and occur as part of a person’s ongoing health care plan.

How to prepare for Advance Care Planning:

• Choose a substitute decision-maker: someone you trust to speak for you if you became sick and couldn’t speak for yourself. Ask them if they are prepared to be your substitute decision-maker.
• Talk about your values, beliefs and preferences with your substitute decision-maker and other people involved in your care such as family, friends, carers and doctors.
• Write your preferences and/or appoint your substitute decision-maker using the recommended Advance Care Directive documents. Your GP or other health professionals can help support you to document your choices.
• Share your Advance Care Directive documentation with your substitute decision-maker, family, friends, carers and your doctors. This will help ensure everyone knows what you want.
• Upload your completed documents to your My Health Record.
• Review your plan regularly and update it as needed.

“It is recommended you review your decisions and documents regularly. This is particularly important if there is a change in your health, personal or living situation. You can update your Advance Personal Plan at any time providing you still have decision-making capacity,” Ms Rankin said.

Further information on advance care planning is available here.

Media contact: Russel Guse 0436 933 810