NEWS RELEASE
HOSPICE SIMCOE
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April 16 is National Advance Care Planning Day. Advance Care Planning involves having conversations about future healthcare needs (including end-of-life care) and making sure those close to you are aware of your values and wishes.
It is, first and foremost, about knowing who will make decisions for you if you are no longer able to (your Substitute Decision Maker), and secondly, it means talking to that person about what is important to you, to help guide their decision-making.
We must acknowledge the challenges that we are facing with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). With the pandemic, now more than ever, it is important to have these conversations. We are in a time where no one knows what will happen and are constantly reminded of how fragile life really is.
“As someone who provides grief and bereavement support to family members, I can't stress enough how important it is to talk to your people about what quality of life means to you. Having to make choices about someone's healthcare in the middle of a crisis only complicates and adds suffering to the situation. Having these conversations is a gift to you, your friends and your family members," said Amy Pritzker, bereavement co-ordinator
Talk to those around you. It’s not always easy; some need help to begin these difficult conversations. The 'Speak Up' initiative has a website for the province of Ontario (www.speakupontario.ca), full of information, tools, and prompts to help with starting these conversations.
Hospice Simcoe will be sharing information and resources with the community and facilitating a chat forum to start the conversation, which can be found on our website (www.hospicesimcoe.ca) and our social media platforms. Staff is also available to provide support with the Advance Care Planning process. Please feel free to reach out at 705-725-1140. In the meantime, let’s make these conversations happen, take care ourselves and take care of each other.
The Hospice Simcoe Community Support Program is continuing to offer support virtually and by phone. We want to ensure the community knows we are here to help.
All of our programs and services – residential hospice, visiting hospice and bereavement support are provided at no cost. We rely on donations, including memorial gifts, general donations and third-party events for over 50 per cent of our operating costs. Thank you to our community for their ongoing support.
For the dying and the bereaved, Hospice Simcoe provides compassionate, expert care and services to ease the pain – before, during and after their journey.
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