Canadian Advanced Care Planning Day

Advanced Care Planning (ACP) is a process of reflection and discussion, a way of deciding what kind of care you want at the end of life and perhaps more importantly what care you don’t want. It involves thinking about and discussing with you family and caregivers your values, wishes and who you want to speak on your behalf if you can’t communicate. It provides them and your caregivers guidance as to what your wishes are.

Studies have shown that having an advanced care plan in place leads to greater satisfaction with care received at the end of life as well as reduced stress on the families and caregivers of dying patients.

Unfortunately studies have also shown that 85% of Canadians have not heard of Advanced Care Planning and that less than 50% had discussed their wishes for what kind of end of life care they wanted with their families of friends and even fewer had advised their Physician of their wishes.

To address this situation the Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society is making a series of public presentations regarding ACP to introduce the concept, explain it, and encourage the preparation of ACPs. A number of our volunteers have also developed expertise in the process and are available to assist anyone in developing an ACP.

In conjunction with National ACP day our first session will be held on April 16 at the Cranbrook Health Unit from 7 to 9 p.m.

Our second session will be held in Kimberley on April 24 at the Kimberley Campus of the College of the Rockies; our third session will be held in Jaffray on May 1 at the Jaffray Community Centre, our fourth session will be held in Wasa Lake on May 4 at the Wasa Lake Community Centre and our fifth session will be held in Moyie May 14 at the Moyie Community Hall. All sessions will run from 7 – 9 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. The public is invited to join us and learn about this important topic. It’s your body and your voice. Let it be heard whether you can speak or not. Join us and learn how.

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