By Michael de Jong
Minister of Health
April 27, 2012

VICTORIA - In today's busy world, people plan and prepare for almost anything and everything.

Many of you are probably planning summer vacations, while others may be preparing to celebrate a big milestone such as a birthday, wedding or anniversary. But what about planning for your future health-care treatment decisions?

No one knows what tomorrow will bring. A serious accident or illness can result in you being incapable of making your own health-care treatment decisions, leaving your loved ones to make difficult decisions for you.

Advance care planning is all about talking to your loved ones and health-care providers so they know the kinds of health-care treatments you wish to receive, or not, if you become incapable of expressing your own wishes.

Katherine Tam, an advance care planning volunteer with the Community Engagement Advisory Network (CEAN) in Vancouver, knows the stress and conflict that can occur in a family when a loved one's health-care wishes are unknown.

Her father was 89 when he became ill and was admitted to hospital. Unable to swallow and his condition deteriorating, health-care workers asked the family's permission to insert a feeding tube. He did not have an advance care plan and the family had to guess what his wishes would be.

Katherine, a hospice volunteer and her father's caregiver, was sure that her father would not want life support. Her brother felt differently and insisted measures be taken to sustain their father's life. Katherine's mother deferred to her son and efforts were made to insert a feeding tube. Her father fought off the feeding tube so determinedly that it was never inserted and he died a few days later.

Everyone in the family was trying to do the right thing but, because he had not made his wishes for his care clear when he was capable, the family was in turmoil.

Advance care planning has been close to Katherine's heart ever since and her volunteer interests have stretched to doing advance care planning workshops in Greater Vancouver.

Talking about advance care planning isn't always easy. And it can be hard to know where to start. That's why in September 2011, we made changes to personal planning legislation, giving British Columbians new options to express their wishes for their future health-care treatment in advance of a time when they may be incapable of doing so.

The provincial advance care planning guide, My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment, helps ordinary British Columbians learn about advance care planning and create an advance care plan that fits their beliefs, values and wishes. Since February 2012, more than 380,000 British Columbians have viewed this guide, which is available on the ministry's website.

Providing information on advance care planning and tools to help prepare for future health-care needs is one of the actions in our new seniors' action plan. Through 'Improving Care for B.C. Seniors: An Action Plan', the Province is building a more accessible, transparent and accountable approach to seniors' care. The plan contains specific deliverables to help seniors and their families navigate the health system, easily access information about care options and have a clear and simple way to register complaints and have their concerns addressed.

April 16 was Advance Care Planning Day in B.C. and in Canada. It may not be easy, but consider who you would like to make decisions on your behalf in the event you are not able to. Think about what instructions you want your loved ones and health-care providers to have to ensure your beliefs, values and wishes are carried out. Reflect on what healthy aging means to you and what choices you can make now to help you live a long, healthy and independent life.

Don't wait to ask yourself these questions. Talk to your loved ones now about what your vision is for your health as you age.

For more information on advance care planning talk to your health-care provider or visit: http://www.seniorsbc.ca/legal/healthdecisions/.