The Only Two Certainties In Life Are Death And Taxes.
Although used by Mark Twain, the quotation “The Only Two Certainties In Life Are Death And Taxes” is known to have originated in a 1789 letter from Benjamin Franklin to Jean-Baptiste Leroy, a prominent French scientist.
Dealing with mortality is difficult and our guest speaker Denise McGrath gave us a informative and thought provoking talk on Advanced Care Directives, Enduring Guardianships and NSW Ambulance Authorised Adult Palliative Care Plans. Although it can be described as an extremely difficult and confronting topic, having an Advanced Care Directive in place, the individual decides what will have if a catastrophic event happens. It is your way of letting all concerned know what you want to happen and when. Remember ‘planning is key’!
Advanced Care Directive
An Advance Care Directive is an important way of letting people know your wishes about your healthcare and treatment should you find yourself in a position where you are seriously ill or injured and not able to make decisions. Having an Advance Care Directive will make it easier for your loved ones and health staff if they need to make decisions for you. An Advance Care Directive is an important result for Advance Care Planning.
An Advance Care Directive is a way to say what healthcare treatments you would like to have or refuse, should you be in a position where you are seriously ill or injured and unable to make or communicate decisions about your care and treatment.
An Advance Care Directive can only be made by you as an adult with decision making capacity. If it is valid, it must be followed. Health professionals and family members have no authority to override a valid Advance Care Directive.
An Advance Care Directive may include one or more of the following:
- The person you would like to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions.
- Details of what is important to you, such as your values, life goals and preferred outcomes.
- The treatments and care you would like or would refuse if you have a life-threatening illness or injury.
Enduring Guardianship
An Enduring Guardian is the person you legally appoint to make decisions about your health and lifestyle in the event you cannot make these decisions for yourself. You can appoint an Enduring Guardian as long as you are over 18 and have the capacity to make this choice on your own.
What is the role of an Enduring Guardian?
There may be a time in your life when you need someone to make important decisions for you. This could be due to a temporary or permanent loss of decision-making ability from illness, injury or disability – this can happen at any time in your life. Your Enduring Guardian only starts making decisions for you when you are unable to. A doctor or specialist can be called upon if it is uncertain whether your Enduring Guardian should start making decisions.
NSW Ambulance Authorised Adult Palliative Care Plan
NSW Ambulance Authorised Palliative Care Plans (APCP) were developed to enable paramedics to provide individualised care to a patient, who has a life-limiting illness. The APCP will provide paramedics with the plan which has been developed by the medical practitioner in consultation with the patient and/or their person responsible. In order for the paramedic to follow the APCP it must be endorsed by NSW Ambulance. If the APCP is not endorsed, delay in the provision of the required treatment may result. Authorised Care Plans are only processed Mon – Fri (No Public Holidays).
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Leeton Rotary Farmers and Makers Markets
At last weekend’s Farmers Markets the Leeton Rotary Farmers and Makers Market Committee presented $250 donations to two extremely worthy organisations. The donations were presented to:
Anna Nardi for Lilier Lodge
Lilier Lodge in Wagga Wagga provides affordable, subsidised accommodation, “a home away from home” comfort, serenity and support during a very stressful time, for cancer patients who travel long distances for treatment, purpose built by Can Assist and Cancer Council NSW.
Yvonne Murphy for Country Hope
Country Hope provides family centred support programs to country children diagnosed with cancer or other life threatening illnesses and is dedicated to developing support programs and services, in response to the needs of country families.
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