No one wants to think about end of life care, but if you don't have a plan in place, others will have to make hard decisions for you, and they may not be the choices you would have made. Thinking about this before the need arises is very important and should be discussed with those you love.
Here is some information on Advanced Care Directives:
What is an Advance Care Directive?
An Advance Care Directive is a legal form that allows people over the age of 18 years to:
- write down their wishes, preferences and instructions for future health care, end of life, living arrangements and personal matters and/or
- appoint one or more Substitute Decision-Makers to make these decisions on their behalf when they are unable to do so themselves.
It cannot be used to make financial decisions.
If you have written a refusal of health care, it must be followed if relevant to the circumstances at the time. All other information written in your Advance Care Directive is advisory and should be used as a guide to decision-making by your Substitute Decision-Maker(s), your health practitioners or anyone else making decisions on your behalf.
It is your choice whether or not to write an Advance Care Directive. No one can force you to have one or to write things you do not want. These are offences under the law.
You can change your Advance Care Directive at any time while you are still able by completing a new Advance Care Directive Form.
Your new Advance Care Directive Form will replace all other documents you may have completed previously, for example an Enduring Power of Guardianship, Medical Power of Attorney or Anticipatory Direction.
When will it be used?
Your Advance Care Directive only takes effect (can only be used) if you are unable to make your own decisions, whether temporarily or permanently.
If you cannot:
- understand information about the decision
- understand and appreciate the risks and benefits of the choices
- remember the information for a short time; and
- tell someone what the decision is and why you have made the decision.
It means you are unable to make the decision (sometimes called impaired decision-making capacity) and someone else will need to make the decision for you.
Follow the link below to find out more:
