Eighty-six per cent of Canadians have not heard of Advance Care Planning (ACP) but a local project is trying to change that by helping people understand and take action on ACP – the Ontario way.
ACP is about conversations. It’s about identifying a substitute decision maker (SDM) and having conversations with them and family and friends about future health care wishes in the case of injury or illness if and individual is mentally incapable of making decisions.
Conversations Worth Having is unique in Ontario as it is focused on changing the attitudes and behaviours of the general public, community professionals and health care providers.
This initiative is funded by our Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) and is sponsored by Hospice Waterloo Region in partnership with Hospice Wellington.
In a recent community survey 93% of local respondents agreed that it is important to have an ACP conversation with their SDM.
A number of events are planned to recognize ACP day including:
– April 12 from 6 to 9pm at Country Hills Church, 1280 Ottawa St. South for the general public. Kitchener – Estate planning, powers of attorney, wills, advance care planning; and
– April 13 from 1 to 3:30pm at St. Joseph Health Centre, 100 Westmount Rd. Guelph for health care providers. Substitute decision making and health care – an opportunity to hear from a legal expert and representatives of the consent and capacity board as well as the public guardian and trustee.
For more information about events planned to recognize ACP Day visit www.acpww.ca
National Advance Care Planning Day provides an opportunity to highlight the value of these conversations and the importance of identifying a substitute decision maker. Contact the conversations worth having project team at 519-743-4114 or visit www.acpww.ca for information.
