We spend so much time planning the big milestones in Waterloo-Wellington – weddings at Victoria Park, buying a first home in Guelph, or preparing for retirement. But there is one type of planning that often gets pushed to the bottom of the long-term “to-do” list: Advance Care Planning.
As a death doula here in the Waterloo-Wellington area, I see firsthand how much peace of mind comes when people take the time to share their future care wishes before a crisis hits.
What exactly is Advance Care Planning?
In Ontario, Advance Care Planning is the process of reflecting on your values and wishes, and let’s be honest, it’s really about making sure your voice is heard if you ever become unable to speak for yourself.
It’s not just about end-of-life; it’s about any situation where you might be temporarily or permanently incapacitated. It involves two main steps:
- Choosing Your Substitute Decision Maker (SDM): This is the person who will step in and make medical decisions for you.
- Sharing Your Wishes: Talking to your SDM about what quality of life means to you and what kind of medical interventions you would or wouldn’t want.
Why it matters for our community.
Our local healthcare systems, like WRHN Queen’s Boulevard (formerly St. Mary’s General Hospital) and Guelph General Hospital, are incredible, but the clinicians there can only do so much if they don’t know what you value. When you have these conversations early, you take the “guessing game” away from your family. Instead of them standing in a hospital hallway wondering, “Is this what they would have wanted?”, they can stand firm knowing they are honouring your exact choices.
Local Resources to Get You Started
If you’re ready to start but aren’t sure how, here are some excellent resources tailored to our neck of the woods:
- Lisaard & Innisfree Hospice: They offer workshops and resources specifically for residents of Waterloo Region.
- Hospice Wellington: Offers public workshops & programs for residents of Wellington County.
- Advance Care Planning Ontario: This site provides the specific legal forms and guides that apply to Ontario law (which is different from other provinces).
Taking the First Step
You don’t have to do this all at once, and you certainly don’t have to do it alone. Start by just thinking about who you trust most to speak for you. Maybe it’s over a coffee while looking out at the Grand River, or a quiet Sunday afternoon at home.
Planning isn’t about focusing on the end; it’s about making sure the life you live is respected every step of the way.
#KWAwesome #WaterlooRegion #Guelph #WellingtonCounty #KitchenerWaterloo #AdvanceCarePlanning #OntarioHealth #DeathDoula #PlanWell #PeaceOfMind
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