Advance Care Planning

Advance Care Planning

• Advance care planning should start early, when people are well, and continue throughout their lives.
• It should involve conversations about what people value and the kind of care they want, and should be grounded in a person-centered, holistic approach.
• Advance care planning is an ongoing process that involves thinking about the kind of care you want, talking about it with others, and documenting your wishes in an advance care plan.

National Framework for Palliative Care

• The National Framework aims to integrate a palliative approach to care for people who are aging or have chronic conditions.
• Healthcare providers need to develop skills to provide an integrated palliative approach to care, including being able to talk about death and dying, and recognizing when a palliative approach is needed.
• The framework recommends innovative use of tools, such as social media and storytelling videos, to reach healthcare providers and patients.

Engaging Canadians in Advance Care Planning

• The Speak Up! toolkit was released in 2011 to engage Canadians in advance care planning.
• The toolkit provides resources and conversation starters for healthcare providers to discuss advance care planning with patients and families.
• More effort is needed to engage Canadians in ongoing advance care planning, and to make advance care planning a part of routine healthcare.

Caring Communities

• With an integrated palliative approach to care, most people will receive palliative services from their current healthcare providers.
• Local healthcare organizations need to identify families, populations, or communities that may struggle to fulfill this role.
• Provincial/territorial and regional health system planners need to work with local healthcare providers to provide the necessary support.

Learn about the importance of advance care planning, having conversations about healthcare wishes, and preparing for the future with a focus on patient advocacy.