Wimmera Health Care Group is hosting sessions to help the Wimmera community consider their future medical care and understand the importance of advance care planning.
The sessions are being held by Wimmera Health Care Group on Tuesday 2 April at 10am and Thursday 4 April at 1.30pm at the Wimmera Cancer Centre. The sessions are open to the public and are part of National Advance Care Planning Week 2019.
Event attendees will have the opportunity to discuss what living well means to them and learn how plans can be made today to provide a medical care road map for tomorrow.
“We want to help people prepare for a time when they may be too sick to speak for themselves and consider a scenario where family and doctors are left to make tough decisions. Advance care planning can give people a voice, ensuring they remain in the driver’s seat, regardless of what the future brings,” says Clare Petering, Palliative Care Team Leader Wimmera Health Care Group.
With an ageing population, advance care planning is becoming an increasing priority for both the community and health sector. As it currently stands less than 15% of Australians have documented their preferences in an Advance Care Directive, despite the fact that 50% of people will be too unwell to make their own end-of-life decisions.
Medical Director of Advance Care Planning Australia, Dr Karen Detering is delighted to see the Wimmera community getting behind the initiative.
“It’s great to see organisations like Wimmera Health Care Group helping people to take a more active role in their future health care. We hope that this event helps empower the people of the Wimmera/Horsham to speak up about the kind of care they want, and ensure their preferences are heard and respected, now and into the future,” says Dr Karen Detering.
For more information on National Advance Care Planning Week please visit acpweek.org.au
Session details:
Advanced Care Planning Information Sessions:
Tuesday 2 April at 10am and Thursday 4 April at 1.30pm.
Wimmera Cancer Centre Meeting Room, Cnr Robinson and Arnott Streets, Horsham.
RSVP – Clare Petering 5381 9363.
Media enquiries
Clare Petering –5381 9363
Chris Dodson – 5381 9052