Wilga-Rose Albina wants more people to be informed about planning for end-of-life.
“My mum was an ICU nurse, and I heard lots of stories about her patients’ end-of-life experiences,” says Wilga-Rose.
“Many had dying processes that were filled with a lot of family turmoil, endless paperwork and a lot of pain because no one had talked about it in advance. The more conversations I had about these experiences, the more I wanted to do something to make sure I can have a ‘good death’.”
To assist her research, Wilga-Rose, known as Rosie, recently attended a free advance care planning clinic held by the MSH Advance Care Planning Service.
“I have experienced deaths of those close to me where no plans in place. There were so many unfulfilled wishes and loved ones were left without closure, giving them little opportunity to grieve. I never want this to happen to me or anyone I love.
“I attended the MSH advance care planning (ACP) clinic to hear about how to put plans and documents in place to support my health care wishes if there is a time I can’t communicate those for myself. I was really surprised by the number of resources that exist to facilitate the planning process. I was worried that the legal jargon and difficulty of formal processes would make planning really hard, so I was excited by the amount of assistance available. All the questions I came in with were answered and I feel happy that I now have a clear starting point for my advance care planning process.”
The Metro South Health ACP Service operates free, monthly consumer clinics at community health centres around the region. Consumers can book directly, or health professionals can refer their patients.
The clinics enable consumers to learn more about ACP and receive support from experienced Clinical Nurse Consultants to complete Queensland ACP documents including the Enduring Power of Attorney, Advance Health Directive and Statement of Choices. People of any age or stage of health can plan their health care, in advance, by sharing their personal values, goals and health care preferences.
ACP conversations and documents allow health care preferences to be known and shared and are used in situations where a person is unable to communicate their wishes for themselves. This means loved ones won’t have to make difficult health care decisions in a crisis situation on a person’s behalf without knowing what the person would have wanted.
Details of the free, monthly clinics and locations are available here: https://www.metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/patients-and-visitors/support-services/acp
Bookings are essential. Call 1300 227 674 for more information.