Letter: Discuss end-of-life plans with family

Open your calendar and you’ll find that it’s marked with special days dedicated to particular illnesses, diseases, and chronic conditions that affect the lives of many.

But today, April 16, is a day unlike the others as it speaks to something we will all experience — dying. Advance Care Planning Day is a chance for all of us, no matter our age, to reflect on our values, beliefs and understanding about how we want to be cared for at the end of our lives.

We don’t have many conversations about dying in our culture, despite the fact that it’s something we will all face.

Advance Care Planning is not just about creating a document detailing our wishes. It’s more about the process — having these important conversations with family and friends. And for those of us who want to start these conversations, the website advancecareplanning.ca can help along the way.

For me, Advance Care Planning really highlights the importance of choice and finding out what feels right for us.

As a Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), we believe in supporting northerners in their choice of where they would like to live out their final days, who will be their caregivers and what kind of care they want to receive.

I am pleased that Maison Vale Hospice is realigning palliative and end-of-life care in the Sudbury area. In fact, the hospice recently integrated with Warmhearts, a palliative volunteers-visiting organization.

This realignment reflects the commitment on part of both organizations to put the needs of their clients first.

Louise Paquette
CEO, North East LHIN