Circle of Care

In the realm of healthcare decision-making, clarity and foresight are invaluable. This is where an Advance Care Directive (ACD) comes into play, serving as a crucial document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment and care if you are unable to communicate your wishes.

Circle of Care’s executive director Annelle Norman has been conducting ACD workshops several times a year since 2019, including holding them online via Zoom during the pandemic.

The next session will be held on Tuesday, March 19, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Point Roberts Library. The workshop is free and attendance is limited to 10 people. If you’d like to attend, please reserve your place by emailing prcircleofcare@gmail.com.

While contemplating end-of-life scenarios can be challenging, the benefits of completing an Advance Care Directive are substantial and far-reaching.

Empowerment and autonomy:

An ACD empowers you to assert control over your medical care, even in situations where you are incapacitated. By expressing your healthcare preferences in advance, you ensure that your wishes are respected and followed, providing a sense of autonomy and peace of mind.

Alignment of care with personal values:

Completing an ACD allows you to align your medical care with your personal values, beliefs and preferences. Whether it involves decisions about life-sustaining treatments, pain management, or end-of-life care, an ACD ensures that healthcare interventions are consistent with your deeply held convictions.

Reduction of family stress and conflict:

In times of medical crisis, family members often face the burden of making difficult decisions on behalf of their loved ones. An ACD can alleviate this burden by clearly articulating your healthcare preferences, thereby reducing stress and potential conflicts among family members.

Preservation of dignity

and quality of life:

One of the primary benefits of an ACD is the preservation of dignity and quality of life. By outlining preferences for end-of-life care, you can avoid interventions that may prolong suffering unnecessarily, enabling you to maintain your dignity and experience a peaceful transition.

Enhanced communication

with healthcare providers:

Completing an ACD fosters communication between you and your healthcare providers. By documenting your wishes in advance, you provide valuable guidance to healthcare professionals, ensuring that medical interventions are aligned with your preferences and goals of care.

Legal protection and clarity:

An ACD provides legal protection by formalizing your healthcare preferences in a legally binding document. This clarity helps to prevent misunderstandings and disputes among your family members and healthcare providers, ensuring that your wishes are honored without ambiguity.

Adaptability to changing circumstances:

While completing an ACD is essential, it is also a dynamic process that should be periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changing circumstances and healthcare preferences.

This adaptability ensures that the document remains relevant and effective over time, accommodating shifts in health status or personal values. You may have completed an ACD some time ago and it might be a good time to re-evaluate how clearly it reflects your current thoughts and feelings.

In conclusion, completing an Advance Care Directive offers numerous benefits that extend far beyond the realm of medical decision-making. By empowering individuals to assert control over their healthcare, aligning care with personal values and reducing stress for loved ones, an ACD serves as a vital tool for promoting dignity, autonomy and peace of mind in times of medical crisis.

If you’d like to attend, please reserve your place by emailing prcircleofcare@gmail.com.