In recent years there’s been considerable focus on men’s health. And rightly so. While no one could deny the importance of shining a spotlight on men’s health issues such as improving mental health, cardiovascular disease, men’s cancers and healthy lifestyle choices, there’s another aspect of men’s health that has also been poorly neglected – advance care planning.
A recent study has shown that only 14 per cent of Australians aged 65+ have completed an advance care directive (ACD). Yet around 30 per cent of us will be too unwell to make our own treatment decisions at the end of our lives. Another study found that women were three times more likely to have completed an advance care directive than men.
It’s a surprising finding given that as we age, many men invest much time and effort into planning other aspects of our lives, such as retirement planning and writing Wills.
There’s a strong case for making an advance care directive (ACD) – that’s the name for a legally-binding advance care planning document which specifies your values and preferences.
Having a valid ACD means you’re more likely to get the medical treatment you want and avoid the treatment you don’t. For example, if you suffer a stroke and can no longer communicate, through your ACD you can consent to or refuse certain life-prolonging interventions such as breathing or feeding tubes. If staying out of hospital and close to family and mates is important, you can also include that.
Think of it as an instructional manual or a toolkit for your doctors and loved ones to help them make the best decisions for you, if you are no longer able to decide or speak for yourself.
So how can we get more into advance care planning?
Talking about advance care planning and increasing awareness is certainly a great start. Have a good chat with your family or your closest mates about what's most important to you.
We spoke to David Helmers, Executive Officer at the Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA) which has been a leading advocate for promoting men’s health in recent times. David agrees that an important part of men living better and healthier lives is encouraging men to make informed choices about their medical care - now and into the future.
"The Australian Men’s Shed Association supports efforts to ensure that more Australian men make advance care planning a priority in their lives, just like they would for writing a Will or retirement planning."
"The study really highlights that we need to get more Australian men, particularly older men, to create more certainty around their future medical care - for both themselves and their loved ones who may be left to make tough decisions - it's good for them and it's good for their families."
Watch an Australian Men's Shed Association Toolbox Talk with ACPA Volunteer Community Ambassador Catherine and AMSA host Stuart Torrance for practical tips on how to get started on advance care planning yourself.