Advance care planning enables older people to have greater control over their future medical treatment, including who provides that care and how decisions are made.
There are a range of situations which may lead to you being unable to speak for yourself regarding health or medical decisions. In the lead up to advance care planning week next month we want to raise awareness of advance care planning and the importance of ensuring your preferences are known, recorded and accessible.
Advance Care Planning Australia outline the following benefits to documenting your preferences:
- It helps to ensure you receive the care you actually want.
- It improves ongoing and end-of-life care, along with personal and family satisfaction.
- Families of people who have undertaken advance care planning have less anxiety, depression, stress and are more satisfied with care.
- For healthcare professionals and organisations, it reduces unnecessary transfers to acute care and unwanted treatment.
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