NEWS RELEASE
NORTH SIMCOE MUSKOKA HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE NETWORK
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Everyone has a community of care – the people we help, and the people we depend on for help. But if you became ill, became mentally incapable and couldn’t speak for yourself, would your family, friends, and community know your wishes? Do they know who would speak for you?
National Advance Care Planning Day is the perfect time to think about these things – so much so, that a team of Advance Care Planning advocates have decided to celebrate it across North Simcoe Muskoka over the course of a week.
Join the North Simcoe Muskoka Advance Care Planning Champions on April 16 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Orillia Public Library for an interactive and informational event to not only raise awareness, but to also learn strategies to help start important conversations in our community.
There will be a giant “Before I die I want to…” wall on display, as well as additional resources and information available.
Advance care planning is thinking about your wishes for future care and talking about them with your substitute decision maker(s), someone who will speak for you and make medical decisions if you can’t speak for yourself because you are mentally incapable. It’s also important to share your wishes with others who can support your substitute decision maker(s), such as family members, friends and your community.
Talking with your substitute decision maker(s) is essential, however, this is not always an easy conversation to discuss. This event will help community members to feel more confident engaging their loved ones in advance care planning conversations, while keeping it light and interactive.
“Research shows that advance care planning significantly reduces stress and anxiety for those who are making medical decisions for others,” says North Simcoe Muskoka Hospice Palliative Care Network Community Engagement Lead Amy Pritzker. “However, many people don’t know they have a Substitute Decision Maker – or if they are someone else’s substitute decision maker. If this isn’t known, then we can assume these important conversations aren’t happening. We could be setting each other up for potential crises which could be avoided.”
For more information about this exciting event or to get involved, please contact Amy Pritzker at 705-325-0505 ext. 109 or [email protected].
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