Advanced Care Planning

Our doctors can help you make healthcare decisions that are right for you.

Advanced Care Planning – it’s a bit of a buzzword

Advanced care planning (ACP) sounds more complicated than it is. Basically it is your wishes and plans around the end of your life, written down in a way that makes clear to doctors, nurses (and anyone else who may care for you) what treatment you do and don’t want, at what point you feel your quality of life would be so poor you would not want it prolonged, and when you reach the point of comfort care, what are your wishes around dying.

Who needs an ACP?

What sort of questions will I be asked?

What do you know about life support and resuscitation?
Unless you know what you are agreeing to or refusing you cannot make an informed decision. What do the words mean in reality? If you reach the point of needing resuscitation, what is your likelihood of returning to the same quality of life you had before you became ill?

What are the things that mean a good quality of life?
Where do you, personally draw the line? If the chance of living independently after treatment is poor, would you go through the treatment? Is life in a nursing home acceptable or would you be angry if your life was saved simply so that was the only option?

What do you understand about the phrase ‘stopping treatment’?
It doesn’t mean stopping all treatment, it just means stopping certain treatments, ones that will lead to a life you don’t want. We can talk through different possibilities so you understand what would be right for you.

I’m making decisions for a relative with severe dementia, can I book an appointment?

Yes you can*. You can book a family conference with a doctor at the Aged Care facility. We can help you come to a decision or provide a neutral person to be a sounding board.

*please note that family conferences may not be Medicare billable. Please discuss fees in advance.