Planning Ahead Forum in Wyong for carers
Today, a free forum for carers and health professionals about the importance of planning ahead, capacity, the role of substitute decision making and advance care directives is being held in Wyong, New South Wales (NSW).
The forum is being held jointly by Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and the NSW Department of Justice and Attorney General.
“Making decisions and putting plans in place about how you would like to be cared for in the future and who can make decisions for you when you are no longer able to can ease some of the burden at what can be a very stressful and emotional time,” John Watkins, Alzheimer’s Australia NSW chief executive officer (CEO) said.
The forum will be chaired by Nick O’Neill, director of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and former president of the NSW Guardianship Tribunal.
Other speakers include:
- John Watkins, CEO of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW;
- Associate Professor Carmelle Peisah, Conjoint Associate Professor in the School of Psychiatry at the University of NSW;
- Sue Field, NSW Trustee and Guardian Fellow in Elder Law at the University of Western Sydney;
- Jenna Macnab, Senior Policy Advisor, Diversity Services, Department of Justice and Attorney General; and
- Anne Meller, Clinical Nurse Consultant at the Prince of Wales Hospital.
The forum will also feature the launch of the book A Plan of Care, from the Advance Care Directive Association Inc which aims to help people make health and personal care decisions for a person in NSW with dementia. It also highlights the importance of planning ahead.
Ms Meller, one of the authors, said families often struggle with doing what is best for the person they love.
“I think this book will meet a real need for those families and carers of people with dementia, as well as GPs involved with those carers,” she said.
The forum is being held at the Wyong Shire Council Chambers, 2 Hely Street, Wyong. Registration is from 10am and proceedings start at 10.30am followed by a light lunch.
There will also be an Information Expo with stalls from:
- Alzheimer’s Australia NSW
- Diversity Services
- Advance Care
- Directive Association Inc
- Carers NSW
- Carer Support (Central Coast);
- Central Coast Respite and Carelink Centre
- Central Coast General Division of Practice
- Guardianship Tribunal
- Legal Aid
- LawAccess
- NSW Trustee and Guardian
- Office of Public Guardian
- The Aged Care Rights Service
