Advance Care Planning for people living with dementia and their family caregivers

About the Project

This project is a two-year initiative (2020-2021) funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada entitled, ‘Mobilizing and equipping community-based organizations to promote awareness and support for person-centred care for people living with dementia and their family caregivers ‘. The aim is to promote the engagement of people at risk of dementia, people living with early stages of dementia and their family and friends in Advance Care Planning (ACP).

The project is building on the success of an existing community-led Advance Care Planning model developed by BC Centre for Palliative Care for the general public. The project team has developed a set of tools, resources, and training materials to support community organizations deliver ACP activities for people living with early stages of dementia and their family and friends.

Project Plan

1. Complete an environmental scan and focus group interviews to gather information that informs the development and adaptation of the community-led ACP model.

2. Develop a culturally appropriate, community-led ACP education model for British Columbians living with early stages of dementia and their family members and friends.

3. Pilot the model with four (4) community organizations in BC

4. Refine the finalized model based on evaluation data collected from the pilot

5. Implementation of the model with ten (10) community organizations in BC

6. Knowledge synthesis and spread

Project Outputs

1) Environmental Scan: click here to read the executive summary

2) Quality Forum 2021: Promoting Engagement of People Living with Early Stages of Dementia and their Family Members and Friends in Advance Care Planning through Community-led Interventions

Project Progress

My Wishes, My Care: Advance Care Planning Programs

For people living with early stages of dementia and their family and friends.

Two community-led ACP programs were developed for people living with early stages of dementia and their family and friends – a guided conversation event and a two-part ACP information session. The two programs were designed to complement each other and, ideally, to be taken in sequence. Titled My Wishes, My Care…, the programs are:

1. A guided group conversation event to help participants explore their values, beliefs, and wishes for future health care and personal care. This is an important part of the Advance Care Planning process.

2. A two-part information session to teach participants about the steps of Advance Care Planning, and offer information and resources to help them get started.

Pilot Phase (October 2020 - February 2021)

Implementation Phase (March 2020 - July 2021)

Spread Phase (September - December 2021)

For more information regarding the project, please contact the project manager, Kathy Sheng, at KathySheng@bc-cpc.ca

To stay up-to-date on the project’s activities, subscribe to BC Centre for Palliative Care’s monthly newsletter, CentrePoint.

This initiative is supported by funding from Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Public Health Agency of Canada.

Cette initiative bénéficie du soutien de l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada. Les opinions qui y sont exprimées ne représentent pas nécessairement les positions de l’Agence de la santé publique du Canada.