Future Planning

One of the devastating things we see in hospitals are when our seniors have not articulated what they want for their future. Many have planned for funerals, but few have set out who they would want to make decisions for them if they were not able, perhaps due to a stroke or a serious medical illness. Examples include setting up a Power of Attorney for financial affairs or an Enduring Guardianship for medical and residential decisions. These decision makers only become active if you were to lose the ability to make decisions yourself, either temporarily or permanently.

Talking about death, whilst frequently confronting can be helpful to both older persons and families/ friends. Death is one of life’s certainties and ‘death is what gives life meaning’. Understanding when one has potentially life-limiting or life-threatening medical problems allows us to consider how we want to live the rest of our lives and what priorities we set for this life. This may include personal goals. It may also include a reflection on what an older person would want from future medical and nursing care. This second point is called setting up an Advanced Care Plan.