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Starting the Advance Care Planning conversation can be the most difficult part of the process, but will add tremendous value to your patients at a time in which they may be too unwell to communicate for themselves.
The sad truth is that around four in ten people will not be able to make their own end-of-life medical decisions, yet less than 15 per cent of Australians have documented their preferences.
Being prepared eliminates the usage of aggressive treatments that the person might not have wanted – and families may feel burdened by the worry that they will make a wrong choice.
As health professionals you shouldn’t be afraid to raise the subject with the patient you are supporting, remembering that planning for the future is a normal part of life and healthcare.
Most people are not used to talking about end-of-life care, so they may need some time to think before they talk about their choices. Let the conversation happen naturally and listen. Encourage the person to speak with their family, friends, carer and yourselves.
Advance care planning is an ongoing conversation – it should not happen only one time. Everyone’s values and goals change, so they might want to change their advance care plan.
The members of the Gold Coast Hospital Service Specialist Palliative Care team and Gold Coast Primary Health Network will be conducting a free face-to-face workshop that will provide an opportunity for questions and answers to relevant topics related to individual patient care. The face-to-face workshop has been allocated 4 Category 2 points Activity: 157438 in the RACGP QI&CPD Program for the 2017–2019 triennium.
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