Planning

Advance care planning means thinking ahead and writing down what you want for your healthcare if you can’t decide for yourself later. It includes what you’d like if you’re in the hospital, have an accident or are near the end of your life.  

Read about Advance Care Planning here.

B.C.’s regional health authorities all have some information on advance care planning. For more information, visit the links below:  

• Fraser Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Interior Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Northern Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Vancouver Coastal Health: Advance Care Planning  
• Vancouver Island Health Authority: Advance Care Planning 
• First Nations Health Authority: Advance Care Planning 

This video talks about advance care planning in five key steps. It includes pictures and words to help explain the information.  

Watch the Advance Care Planning Video here.

Disability Alliance BC (DABC) supports people with a disabilities in many ways. Services and programs, advocacy, free resources and partnerships are all ways DABC can help. There is easy-to-understand information on how to apply for BC Disability Benefits (PWD), as well as help with applying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). DABC also has a Disability Law Clinic.   

Visit the Disability Alliance BC website here to learn more.

A medical order for scope of treatment (MOST) is a decision that is made with guidance from your doctor regarding levels and types of healthcare actions that you may need in the future. It is referred to as an “order” which must come from a doctor or nurse practitioner. A MOST form is used only by healthcare professionals.  

For medical orders for scope of treatment information and resources from your health authority, click on the links below. 

• Fraser Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Interior Health: Medical Orders for Scope Treatment 
• Island Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Northern Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment 
• Vancouver Coastal Health: Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment

This guide and workbook will help you complete an advance care plan. This means thinking about your wishes for health care decisions in the event you are unable to make them in the future.  

Read the My Voice – Expressing my Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment guide here.

Nidus provides information to people about personal planning and is an expert in Representation Agreements. They have a BC Registry for personal planning documents so you can access your documents if you lose them. NIDUS also hosts webinars to support people around these important planning tools. 

Visit the Nidus website here.  

Learn about Representation Agreements here. 

Learn about Wills and Estate Planning here.

A do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order is a legal document. It means a person has decided not to have cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) attempted on them if their heart or breathing stops.

Anyone who changes their wishes about their no CPR preference, should inform their doctor, nurse practitioner or care facility nurse, tear up the No CPR form, and contact MedicAlert if they are enrolled with them for a No CPR bracelet or necklet. 

Find the No Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Form here.

Planned Lifetime Advocacy Network (PLAN) has a full schedule of learning opportunities, including Wills, Trusts and Estate planning, RDSP Information and Building Personal Networks.  Both in-person and tele-learning opportunities are available.

Visit the PLAN website here.

Learn about building personal support networks here.

WayFinders is a free program with no waiting list that provides person-centred planning and resource information for families anywhere in the province. A WayFinders facilitator will help families and individuals come up with a plan for a rich, inclusive and meaningful life that is driven by the individual’s interests and desires along with strategies to make the plan a reality. 

Visit the WayFinders website here.