• Advance Care Planning

    Planning ahead for your health care, personal matters and what matters most to you

    Advance care planning is a way to think about, talk about and record what is important to you if a time comes when you can no longer make or communicate decisions for yourself.

    It can include your wishes for future health care, end of life care, living arrangements and personal matters – guided by your values, beliefs and what gives your life meaning.

    What is important to you? Thinking about your choices now can help guide others to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

    This is why, for many people, advance care planning brings reassurance and peace of mind. It helps ensure your voice is heard, even if – or when, circumstances change.

     

    Advance Care Directive Kit image

    Why advance care planning matters, not just to you, but others.

    There may come a time when illness, injury or frailty makes it difficult for you to express your wishes. This is more likely as we grow older, or if we live with a chronic or progressive condition.

    Having an advance care plan in place can:

    • Support care that reflects your values, preferences and beliefs
    • Guide staff and health professionals in an emergency or at times of change
    • Reduce stress and uncertainty for family and loved ones
    • Give you greater confidence that decisions made on your behalf align with what matters to you

    Advance care planning can also be an opportunity to reflect on what gives your life meaning, including personal, cultural or spiritual beliefs that may guide your care, and share that with others.

    Recording your wishes

    A written advance care plan provides clear guidance about the care and treatments you would or would not want, as well as what is important to you as a person.

    In South Australia, a competent adult can complete an Advance Care Directive, which allows you to:

    • Write down your wishes, preferences and instructions for future health care, end of life care, living arrangements and personal matters; and/or
    • Appoint one or more Substitute Decision-Makers to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself

    These decisions can be reviewed and updated over time as your circumstances, beliefs or priorities change.

     

    Support to complete an Advance Care Directive

    Resthaven can support residents or clients who wish to complete an Advance Care Directive (ACD).

    If requested, we can provide Advance Care Directive forms and offer guidance to help you understand the process and consider your choices. This support is offered at your pace and respects personal, cultural and spiritual values.

    You may also choose to complete your Advance Care Directive independently through SA Health. This can be done:

    • Online, using the interactive form; or
    • By downloading a PDF to complete in your own time

    Create or access your Advance Care Directive via SA Health:

    Create my Advance Care Directive | SA Health

    Existing documents

    Statutory documents completed before 1 July 2014 under previous legislation still remain valid.

    These include:

    • Enduring Power of Guardianship
    • Medical Power of Attorney
    • Anticipatory Direction

    When you come to Resthaven, we will start a conversation with you about what is important, now and in the future. We encourage you to share your wishes and choices with those you care about, and with those who care about and for you.

    If you want to learn more and get started:

    For practical information, tools and guidance to help you begin advance care planning, visit Advance Care Planning Australia:

    www.advancecareplanning.org.au

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