OTTAWA, ON, – June 1, 2023 – The Advance Care Planning (ACP) Canada project, a collaborative project led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), is proud to share the $1.4 million funding commitment from the Government of Canada in support of making advance care planning resources more accessible for people with disabilities in Canada over the next two years.
Advance care planning (ACP) is a process of reflection and communication; it is a time for people to reflect on their values and wishes for future health and personal care, and to communicate their preferences with others in case they become incapable of speaking for themselves. According to a 2021 national poll on Advance Care Planning “more than 9 in 10 Canadians (93%) say it’s important to talk to family members about their care wishes”.
“This funding and project will enable the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association to provide accessible tools and information on advance care planning that meet the various needs of people with disabilities and their caregivers. By providing this vital information through accessible resources, we hope to empower more people with disabilities across Canada to have an active voice in shaping their future health and personal care.” Laurel Gillespie, CEO, CHPCA
The “Making Advance Care Planning (ACP) more Accessible for Canadians with Disabilities” project aims to increase the accessibility of ACP information and resources so that everyone in Canada can actively participate in planning for their future health and personal care. These resources will be developed and adapted in collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders and advocates in the disability community, and those facilitating advance care planning across Canada.
“Individuals with disabilities face unique challenges and barriers to engaging in advance care planning. We look forward to collaborating with members of the disability community to identify these barriers, and to develop or adapt resources that will support individuals in communicating their values and wishes for their future health care with their caregivers, their loved ones, and their health care providers.” Karine Diedrich, Director, Advance Care Planning Canada, CHPCA
Read the Health Canada news release.