As part of National Advance Care Planning Week, 17-23 March 2025, Ella Critchley, Northern Health Advance Care Planning Program Manager, spoke with Ann, a member of the local community, who recently completed her Advance Care Directive (ACD). Ann shares her personal experience, why she decided to take this step, and the peace of mind it has brought her and her family.
What motivated you to complete an Advance Care Directive?
Ann’s journey began at a meeting at the HUB in Hurstbridge, hosted by Nillimbik Open Minds. There, she heard about the value of advance care planning.
“I thought it was a good idea, but I didn’t do it straight away. It was about six months later when I finally decided to go ahead.”
How did you go about the process?
Ann’s next step was to gather together her adult children; this took some coordination. After a family lunch, they went through the ACD questions one-by-one, and Ann shared her preferences, values and medical instructions.
“It was a bit of a task getting everyone together—one child works permanent part-time, another works on rosters, and my son works fulltime. But once we were all together, we went through it, and I made sure my wishes were clear.”
What specific preferences or instructions did you include in your directive?
Ann’s Advance Care Directive includes several key values and preferences:
- Her Christian faith.
- Her concern about ageing and becoming dependent on others.
- That outcomes like loss of independence, high-level care, and dementia are unacceptable, if they can be avoided.
- If she is nearing death, she doesn’t want to experience pain.
- If she is mentally sound, Ann wants to stay at home, but if not, she is open to moving into care.
- She included an Instructional Directive refusing specific treatments in some situations
Why do you think advance care planning is important?
Ann believes advance care planning is vital for both the individual and their family.
“It provides peace of mind. If you have an ACD, your family knows exactly what you want. It’s important, especially if you have a dysfunctional family—it ensures there’s no room for confusion when it comes to making tough decisions.”
How has completing an ACD given you peace of mind?
For Ann, the process of documenting her preferences has been reassuring.
“Yes, it’s given me peace of mind. I don’t want my family stressing over what to do if something were to happen to me. Now they’ll know what I want.”
How do you think having an ACD benefits your family and healthcare providers?
Ann pointed out that having an ACD can help ensure her family and healthcare providers will be aware of her preferences. If she were to experience a health event that left her unable to communicate, her directive would guide medical decisions, like whether or not to resuscitate her.
“If something happens and I can’t come back from it, I don’t want them to resuscitate me. It’s important for both the family and healthcare providers to know what I want.”
Do you believe more people should consider advance care planning?
Ann is a strong advocate for advance care planning, regardless of age.
“You don’t have to be old to do it. Life can change in an instant—an accident, a stroke, or delirium can happen to anyone. It makes things so much easier for your family if they already know what you want.”
What advice would you give to someone who is hesitant about completing an ACD?
Ann’s advice is simple but powerful:
“Just do it! It can always be updated or changed later, but having something in writing is crucial. It can be as simple as stating your preferred place of care or your views on treatment.”
Ann shared her ACD form with her General Practitioner, who witnessed her signature to the document. Her GP, the hospital and family have copies, so they are available if needed.
Ann’s story is a reminder of the importance of advance care planning for everyone, regardless of age. By making her preferences clear in the ACD, Ann not only has a voice in her healthcare decisions but has also provided her family and healthcare providers with clarity.
The Northern Health Advance Care Planning team are here to provide support and advice. If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact via email acp@nh.org.au or phone 9495 3235.