Death Care Advocate

The days of traditional celebrants being the only person assisting a family, other than funeral company staff, are diminishing. Over the last 26 years I have worked as independent Death Care Advocate, offering families much more than just my services as a funeral celebrant. This has made a huge difference to many families. Being able to discuss their wishes with someone prior to having to make decisions that have a huge financial impact on a family can be incredibly helpful.

An advocate can work with a dying person months before a death, and their role might differ each time. What I find most people engage me for is to discuss the options they might have, advising them on legal items like; disposal of their body and the handling of paperwork that might be required - pre and post their death. These forms might include:

· Enduring Guardianship

· Advanced Care Directive

The other items that a person might discuss with me is any plans they might have relating to:

· dying at home

· preparing a vigil

· deciding on final resting place

· shroud or coffin

· thinking about a formal ceremony or any other ritual that might suit them

Together we put a plan in place that can be flexible as things unfold. This can often be the case depending on the new knowledge they gain along the journey. They often don’t know what’s possible. So when I explain their options it often opens their eyes and give them much more to think about. So having a plan that is flexible is wise. And sometimes plans just have to change due to something not being able to be followed through. A good example of this is someone wanting to die at home, and then stay at home until the funeral.

With all great plans this is sometimes not possible for many reasons:

· pain is not manageable and the person requires hospitalisation

· the family is not able to manage the person at home any more

· family is not coping with having a dying person in the home

· the family copes until death, but then are extremely exhausted and cannot manger having the body at home after death

We must be careful to not call these failures, because there are many reasons why a person cannot die at home, or be kept at home until final disposal. It is important to stress to the dying person that these are their Plan A – and sometimes we have to go to Plan B.

**Victoria - Advance Care Directive**

An advance care directive is an important part of your end-of-life care. An advance care directive formalises your advance care plan. The directive can contain all your needs, values and preferences for your future care and details of a substitute decision-maker.
An advance care directive is sometimes called a living will.
The directive is a formalised version of your advance care plan . It outlines your preferences for your future care along with your beliefs, values and goals. Having an advance care directive means you can also formally appoint a substitute decision-maker for when you can no longer make decisions yourself.
Advance care directives can differ between states and territories. Some state and territory governments have specific forms that you can use.
You can learn more about directives in your state or territory on the Advance Care Planning Australia website.
Another wonderful resource is Dying with Dignity
https://www.dwdv.org.au/resources/documenting-your-medical-treatment-wishes

**Victoria - Medical Treatment Decision Maker**

When you appoint a medical treatment decision maker, you are choosing a trusted relative or friend to manage your health care. The person you appoint becomes your substitute decision-maker if you are no longer able to make decisions.
You may want to choose and appoint one or more adults to this role. To do this you need to complete the Appointment of a medical treatment decision maker form. This checklist of steps will help you complete the form.
If you need someone's help to complete and sign the document for you, use the Appointment of medical treatment decision maker for someone signing on your behalf form.
The forms have specific requirements for completion and witnessing. Your chosen medical treatment decision maker must accept this role by signing the form.
Your medical treatment decision maker can consent to or refuse treatment on your behalf. They must act in accordance with any lawful limitations or conditions contained in the form. They must make the decision they believe you would make if you could make your own decision. For this reason, it is helpful to talk to them about what is important to you and any preferences you have.
If you have appointed a medical enduring power of attorney, an enduring power of attorney, or enduring power of guardianship prior to 12 March 2018, these are still valid.

shroud — **N.S.W. Enduring Guardian**

In NSW, there are two ways you can record your choices for future medical care:
Appoint an enduring guardian
Complete an Advance Care Directive
When you appoint an enduring guardian, you are choosing a trusted relative or friend to manage your health care. The person you appoint becomes your substitute decision-maker if you are no longer able to make decisions. You may want to appoint one or more adults to this role. To do this, you need to complete the Appointment of Enduring Guardian form.
The form has specific requirements for completion and witnessing. Your chosen enduring guardian must accept this role by signing the form.
Your enduring guardian can consent to or refuse treatment on your behalf. They must act in accordance with any lawful directions contained in the form. They must make the decision they believe you would make if you could make your own decision. For this reason, it is helpful to talk to them about what is important to you and any preferences you have.

Death Care Advocate

Victoria - Advance Care Directive

Victoria - Medical Treatment Decision Maker

N.S.W. Enduring Guardian

Western Australia