Health Canada funds a capacity building project on Advance Care Planning led by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association

For Immediate Release

May 10, 2019 (Ottawa, Ontario). The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is proud to announce that the national ‘Speak Up’ Advance Care Planning (ACP) in Canada initiative has received $1.9 million over three years for a project to help people living in Canada prepare for their future health care needs. The project will involve a series of public education and awareness campaigns, support of community-based ACP programs, and promotion of ACP resources and guides.

The funding announcement by the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, stated that, “The Government of Canada understands the vital role that palliative and end-of-life care plays in our health care system. Many Canadians wish to remain independent and want to receive the care they need in their own home or community. This funding means better support for individual Canadians, their families, and caregivers at one of the most difficult times of their lives.”

ACP is about thinking and sharing wishes for future health and personal care. It allows a person to tell others what would be important if they were unable to communicate due to illness or an unexpected crisis. It involves conversations with family and friends, substitute decision-makers, healthcare providers, as well as legal and life planning service providers. Current research shows that ACP leads to increased satisfaction and quality of life for people living with serious illness and their caregivers; fewer invasive medical interventions at the end of life, and care that is better aligns with the person’s values and wishes.

Each year, more than 248,000 Canadians die – and by 2020, that number will increase to over 330,000 annually. A 2019 national poll, commissioned by CHPCA, found that while most Canadians (93%) think it is important to do Advance Care Planning, less than 1 in 5 Canadians have.

The ‘Speak Up’ initiative has a website (www.advancecareplanning.ca) full of information, tools, and tips to help with starting these conversations. Sharon Baxter, Executive Director of CHPCA, says, “We are proud to receive this commitment from The Government of Canada to empower more Canadians to access Advance Care Planning. With this support we will be able to help more Canadians plan for their future health needs”.

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For more information, please contact:
Mary Ann Murray, Director for Advance Care Planning in Canada
or Chad Hammond, Program Manager of the ‘Speak Up’ initiative
1-800-668-2785 ext. 228 / [email protected]

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