Advance Care Planning Workshops this Dying Matters Week

If you became seriously unwell tomorrow and couldn’t speak for yourself, would the people around you know what you’d want? An Advance Care Plan is how you answer that question ahead of time, and this Dying Matters Week, a series of free workshops around the country are helping people put one together.

An Advance Care Plan focuses on the non-clinical side of your care and wellbeing, things like your personal values, what matters most to you, who you’d like around you, where you’d prefer to be cared for, and how you’d like your wishes honoured if you became seriously ill, incapacitated, or were approaching the end of life. It complements any clinical planning you do with your healthcare team, and helps communicate your wishes clearly to family, friends, and everyone involved in your care.

Although the topic is a serious one, an Advance Care Plan is designed for both young and old, and the workshops themselves are welcoming and interactive rather than heavy going, usually including a workbook you can start on the day and finish at home. Putting one together isn’t about expecting the worst, it’s about making sure your voice is still heard even if you’re not able to speak for yourself.