That’s why Benalla Health wants you to plan your future health care and medical treatment while you’re healthy and can make decisions yourself.
Benalla Health recently promoted Advance Care Planning across the week of March 16-22, with two small community events and in-house education.
These successful events allowed individuals to ask questions, gain understanding and confidence, and have their fears allayed.
Advance care planning is the process of planning for your current and future health care.
It involves discussing your values, beliefs and care preferences with your loved ones and doctors.
This then gives you the opportunity to record your preferred health outcomes. In turn, this helps your loved ones and health providers know what matters most to you and respect your treatment preferences.
Ideally, these conversations start when you are well and then continue and are reviewed throughout your life.
Advance care planning allows you to decide what health care you would or wouldn't want if you become unable to make or communicate your choices.
This planning eases the future burden on loved ones, and ensures your wishes and preferences are recorded.
It helps them make decisions about your care when you can’t. It gives you a voice in decisions about your health care when you can’t speak for yourself.
For more information or to get a free starter pack, visit www.advancecareplanning.org.au/ or call the free help line on 1300 208 582.
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