Advance Care Plan Day 2024
The UK's first national day dedicated to Advance Care Planning!
May 8th 2024 will mark the first national Advance Care Planning day in the United Kingdom. This day of action aims to raise awareness of the importance of planning ahead and encourages everyone to document, share and discuss their wishes.
What is Advance Care Planning?
Advance Care Planning is a voluntary process where someone thinks about and makes plans for their future health, social care and wider wishes. An Advance Care Plan outlines what someone would and would not want to happen in the future and will be used to provide guidance to anyone who may need to support you or make decisions in your best interests in the future. It’s like a Last Will & Testament but instead of being about things you own, it’s about you!
Find out more on the Advance Care Plan Day website.
Getting your House in Order
Currently, the vast majority of adults in the UK have not created an Advance Care Plan.
By raising awareness and encouraging conversations around how we would like to be cared for if we become unable to care for ourselves, we take a lot of future pressure off of our loved ones and ourselves. The theme ‘Getting Your House in Order’ shows Advance Care Planning is built on a foundation of ‘What Matters Most to You’ with the different elements for us to consider as windows.
Bo’s Story
“Knowing I won’t always be able to clearly express my thoughts and wishes, it seems best to carefully plan. For instance, I don’t want feeding tubes (PEG) inserted, when reached that point where I can no longer feed myself, have some conscious independent life.
Though I admit my wishes and advance care planning isn’t set in stone. It’s a dynamic process. And to me, that’s where it may be the most important. To have the ability to make decisions when still able, adjust to the environment and changes, and know that it’s well considered.
Also, in many ways, it’s about those who care (the carer) too. My wife and kids will know I have thought things through and made my wishes clear. They may or may not always agree, but it’s expressed and understood.” – Bo Mandiville
The 35th Norfolk Palliative Care Conference
Join our Social Prescribing Team at this years Norfolk Palliative Care Conference for an opportunity to engage with leading experts, explore innovative approaches in palliative care, and deepen your understanding of holistic end-of-life care. This conference will be taking place in Norwich and is open to all; groups, organisations, teams of health care professionals and the general public. While this is a face-to-face event, it will be streamed live across the globe for those unable to attend in person.
