Imagine being in a situation where you can't speak for yourself—who would you trust to speak for you? Or what if you needed to speak on behalf of a loved one, but don't know their wishes?
This is the situation Kevin Dunk found himself in 10 years ago when his mom was admitted to the hospital in Cranbrook. “The care aides at the long-term care home asked me where her green folder was,” he recalls. “I didn’t know what they were talking about, nor did the hospital staff know what a green folder was. The aides said to me, ‘You know, a Do Not Resuscitate form.’ She didn’t have a care plan. I realized not only how confusing the terminology is, but how important it is for caregivers, health-care providers and physicians to all be on the same page.”
Kevin’s experience led him to join Interior Health’s Patient Voices Network. Today, Kevin is one of the proud contributors from Patient Voices who helped create IH’s new My Advance Care Plan, a unique, easy-to-follow workbook that helps you record your wishes for your future health care.
“My experience with my mom opened my eyes. It may be uncomfortable, but the more we talk about our wishes, the less daunting it becomes and the closer we can get to where our truth may lie,” says Kevin. “My Advance Care Plan helps break down those barriers so you can have a normal conversation about end-of-life care so it’s not so fearsome.”
