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Your Substitute Decision Maker is the person (or persons) who will make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. Here are some things to consider when choosing a Substitute Decision Maker: Do I trust this person to make health care decisions that reflect my wishes? Can they communicate clearly with my…

If Not You, Who?  Who would you trust to make your healthcare decisions? Planning for your future healthcare needs is important. So, we’re asking: Do you know what would happen if you couldn’t decide for yourself? Who would you trust to make those healthcare decisions for you?  You have the power to choose who that…

April 16, 2023 Madelin Moses, McMaster University School of Nursing FOR NATIONAL ADVANCE CARE PLANNING DAY, WE ASKED SHARON KAASALAINEN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ADVANCE CARE PLANNING AND NORMALIZING CONVERSATIONS THAT COME WITH IT. “Often people think ‘I’m healthy, I’m young, I don’t need to worry about this or even start thinking about it.’ But…

Advance Care Planning Long-Term Care Repository of Resources This repository was compiled to serve as an information hub for those working in, living at, or interacting with Canadian long-term care homes and engaging in advance care planning conversations.  We hope that this resource will help guide people through the advance care planning process by providing…

The Advance Care Planning in Canada team recently sat down with Dr. Sandy Buchman, Past-President of the Canadian Medical Association and ACP champion, to discuss advance care planning and key findings from the 2021 national poll. You can follow him on Twitter @DocSandyB Dr. Buchman was introduced to advance care planning (ACP) in the 1980s…

The Advance Care Planning in Canada team recently sat down with Dr. Sandy Buchman, Past-President of the Canadian Medical Association and ACP champion, to discuss advance care planning and key findings from the 2021 national poll. You can follow him on Twitter @DocSandyB Dr. Buchman was introduced to advance care planning (ACP) in the 1980s as…

What brings you joy? What does a great day look like to you? Does your family or your Substitute Decision Maker know? This holiday season, take time to share your hopes, dreads, joys, and values. Honest conversations help those in your life understand who you are as a person and what preferences you’d want in…

Advance care planning is a key process for supporting First Nations people to receive palliative and end-of-life care at home, in hospital or in a long term care home. Everyone involved in the circle of care must know the wishes of the seriously ill person, which includes the immediate family, Substitute Decision Maker, extended family,…

Do you have questions about advance care planning? Look for answers below, and if you don’t find your answer, contact us, we’ll do our best to find an answer for you. What is advance care planning? Advance care planning is a process of reflection and communication, a time for you to reflect on your values and…

By learning more about common end of life terms and procedures, you can develop an advance care plan that truly reflects your wishes. You may wish to include some of these terms in your advance care plan: Allow Natural Death Allow natural death refers to decisions NOT to have any treatment or procedure that will…

Writing down or video recording your Advance Care Plan makes it easier for others to understand what’s important to you, and to make decisions that honour your wishes if you couldn’t speak for yourself. On the next page, you will finish creating your plan and recording of what is important to you. Don’t forget to…

It’s time to talk to your Substitute Decision Maker, your family and your health team. These conversations may not be easy – but they will help you and your loved ones know what’s important to you. Here are some ideas for how you can start the conversations: Conversation Starters There are many ways to get…

You should decide who will make medical decisions and speak for you if you become too sick and cannot speak for yourself. Think carefully about who would be willing and able to make these decisions for you. This person will be your Substitute Decision Maker. They may be your husband or wife, or an adult…

By learning more about medical terms and treatments, and legal requirements, you can make better decisions about your plan. Here are some common medical and legal terms that are important to know: Allow Natural Death Allow natural death means decisions NOT to have any treatment or procedure that will delay the moment of death. It…