It's heartwarming to know that the government has made available more funds to support more opportunities to learn about Advance Care Planning. Advance Care Planning is when you think about and communicate your wishes for your future care. Its about the times when you are no longer able to make decisions yourself. You might become unconscious or desperately unwell, or might develop dementia and find decision making is not clear. In such a case doctors must rely on information and decisions from a substitute decision maker. The person or person's who substitute will have to make decisions when they are already distressed because of your health concerns. Whilst they will usually try to make decisions in your interests, the process is made easier for them if they know what you consider most important and how you value your health and well being. Imagine if they are asked, "Do you want us to resuscitate?" or, "Should we introduce complex or burdensome treatments?", and they have no idea if it is the kind of thing you would have wanted. More funding means more people will understand the importance of this process and help to facilitate more discussions; within families, with health care providers, within the community. Have you thought about what you would like to have done if you were so unwell you could not speak for yourself? Have you had that conversation with your family?
You can access more information at: Advacne Care Planning Australia : https://www.advancecareplanning.org.au/individuals
