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Have you shared how you wish to be cared for should you lose capacity to communicate or make decisions? Do it this Advance Care Planning Week!
© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions
Rosemary* is one of the more than 459,000 Australians living with dementia and her primary carer Tina*, her niece, is one of the 1.6 million Australians caring for someone with dementia[1].
Remarkably, close to 10 years after an Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis and at 86 years of age, Rosemary remains living at home alone receiving three to four hours of daily care from a dedicated home care team.
Tina firmly maintains that Rosemary’s advanced care planning – 20 years ago when Rosemary was in her early 60s and had capacity – has allowed her aunt to fulfil her deep held desire to remain in her own home and live a quality life despite her dementia.
What does advance care planning involve?
Rosemary’s advance care planning involved executing the following documents:
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An Enduring Power of Attorney appointing Tina as her Attorney, and
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An Advanced Health Directive stating her desired medical treatment in the event of losing capacity.
Please note that Rosemary is a Queensland resident and the document titles change slightly across our States and Territories, for example, in NSW you appoint an Enduring Guardian[2].
Advance Care Planning Week (18 – 24 March 2024)[3] has arrived to deliver the message to all Australians to plan ahead and use the template documents available on its website[4] to record your preferences and wishes.
How does planning ahead help?
Going back to Rosemary, in 2004 she approached her niece to be her Enduring Power of Attorney and make health and financial decisions on her behalf should she lose capacity to do so. Tina accepted what she terms “the honour of looking after my aunt in her old age”.
Rosemary then handed Tina a copy of her Advance Care Directive detailing what care is to be given or not given should she be unable to make decisions.
Nine years later, Rosemary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Then in 2017, her devoted husband died suddenly. The couple had no children. At that point, Rosemary’s previously “hidden” condition was revealed.
In consultation with Rosemary’s GP and solicitor, Tina established Rosemary’s incapacity to make financial and health decisions on her own and commenced taking the role of Enduring Power of Attorney. She then called on DR Care Solutions for care advice and assistance.
A train of activities promptly took place to ensure Rosemary could safely remain in her own home, they included:
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An ACAT aged care assessment with Tina present to support Rosemary during the assessment.
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The Home Care Package application, with Tina completing all the paperwork.
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Quality home care organised for Rosemary, with Tina supporting her aunt in developing a care plan and arranging payment of the home care service while waiting for a Home Care Package.
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Liaison by Tina with Rosemary’s GP to ensure her aunt’s condition is being managed with the latest Alzheimer’s Disease medication and then seeking the GP’s assistance with encouraging her aunt to give up her driver’s licence.
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Then on an ongoing basis, frequent liaison with Rosemary’s Home Care Co-ordinator on her aunt’s Webster packs, diet, exercise, showering, weekly hair appointments, monthly doctor’s appointments, dental appointments, home aid purchases, home cleaning, and treatment of any day-to-day health concerns such as a runny nose.
Meeting wishes extends life
Tina is convinced that her ability, under the Enduring Power of Attorney, to make timely decisions on Rosemary’s behalf has extended Rosemary’s life.
While the Advance Health Care Directive executed 20 years ago has not yet been relied upon, it clearly states Rosemary’s wish that if she is in the terminal phase of an incurable disease, she does not wish to be resuscitated, placed on life support or receive any other treatment.
A copy of her Advance Health Directive is held by her carers and, given the above-mentioned directive, they know CPR is not to be administered should Rosemary experience a health event as she is in the terminal phase of an incurable disease. Her final wish will be respected.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
Additional Life Planning Resources
While by no means a substitute for an Advance Care Directive, which I encourage everyone over the age of 18 to have, we also offer the following free resources for end of life planning. Fill out the form(s) below and we'll send your resource to your email address:
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End-Of-Life Planning Checklist: Go through a list of tasks to prepare for an end of life.
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Life Ready Register™: Record all your important information in the one place.
Please note: The information in this blog is not to be treated as legal advice. Please speak with your solicitor for legal advice.
Need help caring for a loved one? Please feel free to call me, Danielle Robertson, at any time for an initial discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance at the right time and in the right place.
Resources
[1] Advance Care Planning Australia: ACPA & Dementia Australia Position Statement: Advance Care Directives For People With Dementia
[2] Advance Care Planning Australia: Create Your Plan In New South Wales
[3] Advance Care Planning Australia: National Advance Care Planning Week
[4] Advance Care Planning Australia: Create Your Plan
