Advance care planning allows you wishes to be known

I usually take the opportunity to address this topic in April in conjunction with National Advance Care Planning Day, but we have a great opportunity coming up in the Quinte region and I thought I would share the information with my readers.

So the obvious question is always “Why should I plan my care in advance?” If you are too sick or injured to speak for yourself, advance care planning allows your wishes to be known to your trusted ones and health care team so everyone knows how to take care of you. By preparing your plan now, you reduce stress and conflict for your trusted ones, especially when important healthcare decisions need to be made.

Furthermore, your plan will provide peace of mind, knowing your care wishes have been documented and discussed. Advance care planning is a gift that you give yourself and your trusted ones. You may never need your plan but, if something happens you will be glad you have it appropriately recorded and available to your substitute decision makers/loved ones.

Advance Care Planning is important because…

Knowledge is power!

I want my spouse/family to know what decisions to make for me if I cannot.

It offers peace of mind at a time when it is most needed.

It educates everyone about the laws and responsibilities of Substitute Decision Making

Anything can happen! It empowers people and provides them with a voice.

It relieves emotional and physical pain and stress for the person, the family as well as the medical community.

You cannot anticipate when an emergency happens… you need to plan!

It provides you with control at your end of life.

It gives people the power to choose what they wish for themselves. It reduces stress on loved ones in time of crisis/ critical decisions.

Everyone needs and deserves to have their wishes recognized and honoured

It provides valuable direction and allows family to know your choices.

Everyone needs to have a plan so their loved ones do not need to.

So, the really good news is that Hospice Quinte is offering an Advance Care Planning seminar series designed for adults 55 years of age and up. An advance care plan prepares you for unexpected events so you should learn to write one! We plan for birthdays, weddings, and even dinner – so why do we not plan our health care?

You will learn what health care decisions are made when you are no longer capable of making them yourself. You will find out who acts as your Representative or Substitute Decision Maker. You will be able to determine and record your values, wishes and beliefs. Learn about these terms, what they mean, and how to answer them in the workshop.

Advance Care Planning is often thought of as planning for the end of life, but it is really about planning for life, up to and including death. It is a process of thinking about what is important to you and what your beliefs, values and wishes are for your care. Advance care planning is also about sharing those wishes, especially with your substitute decision-maker so that your family and friends know how you would like to be cared for in the future.

You are being invited to participate in these sessions absolutely free of charge and the first 250 registrants receive an awesome tote bag and wellness package. You can register online at or call Sherry Dracup at 613-966-6610 ext. 229. There are 2 virtual sessions offered in Jan and Feb 2023 and several in-person sessions that will be held at the Stan Klemencic Care Centre early in 2023.

Information in this column is compiled by Shell-Lee Wert, CCSH, 470 Dundas Street East, Unit 63, Belleville, K8N 1G1. Please visit our website at or email me at shellleew@ccsh.ca, or call 613-969-0130 or 613-396-6591 for information and assistance. Community Care is a proud United Way member agency. Funding in part from Ontario Health East.