Just to provide a bit of background: In light of the review of anti-psychotic drug use on elders in BC Care facilities, and repeated reports of other elder abuse, British Columbia's Ombudsperson conducted a review of seniors care in this province. A number of reports and initiatives had been started. This was a very lengthy four year, two part investigation, culminating in the Ombudsperson report ~ The best of care : getting it right for seniors in British Columbia (Part 1), published in December 2009 ... Hope on the horizon, yes?
... This was followed up by a two volume report ~ The best of care : getting it right for seniors in British Columbia (Part 2), published in February 2012. Volume 1 dealing with among other items, home and community care, home support, assisted living. And Volume 2 dealing with among other items, residential care, meeting, site visits and findings, recommendations and responses ...
Pictured below in 2010, acknowledging the 10th Anniversary of the Representation Agreement Act, are the Attorney General, and Nidus Executive Director (Nidus are the 'go too' people for setting up your future representation in event you need someone to speak or act on your behalf) Browse their newsletter where this photo was taken from, for some step by step tips, expert advice and hope and promise for your golden years ... All still looking good right?...
... Out of all of this lengthy and costly investigation, reporting, recommendations, and responses ... a glimmer of hope appears over the horizon ... Behold the winds of change ... Monday, April 16, 2012, Victoria declared today 'Advance Care Planning Day' in British Columbia. By now the law making Attorney General had become the Minister of Health, and on this day, Mike de Jong stated:
"Today, Advance Care Planning Day in B.C. is a good time to remind all capable adults of the importance of thinking about and talking over their future health-care wishes and instructions with the people closest to them. The new, combined advance-care planning guide and workbook has helpful explanations, scenarios and forms to make an advance-care plan."
... and Ron Cantelon, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health went on:
"It may not be easy, but discussing wishes for future health-care treatment with loved ones is an important conversation every capable adult should have. By planning ahead, a person's wishes are made known and can be respected, which can reduce the distress that often arises when trying to make decisions that are often about end-of-life care."
...And this is really, REALLY important, especially when end of life care involves the right to die ... With new laws passed in November 2011, it would be easier to make your wishes and instructions known ... easier to assign representatives to be your spokesperson ... easier to make representation agreements without lawyers or notaries unless professional advice is needed (again Nidus genuinely advises and is a good source for advice). So British Colombians can do their own Advance Care Planning ... We must all plan ahead and go out right now to put the gears in motion to protect ourselves in case we become incapacitated ... We should also include our living will, or advance directive in our representation agreements, so we can ensure our rights and wishes about end-of-life care will be followed ... Because when we have our representation agreements in place our wishes will be respected so our families won't be distressed to make decisions ... Right?!...
...Except...
... This link takes you to some folks that did all of the above...
...So 6 long years, and millions of dollars latter ... In B.C...you have a lot of double speak lip service ... but still no future health care rights ...
Writers note: We had both a representation agreement and enduring power of attorney for my mother, and neither was given a bit of respect...They simply, illegally and repeatedly, treated without consent until they caused her early passing, and no one has been, or will be, held accountable...
