Planning for the Future

Sorting out your affairs

As we age, things can change, and we need to plan for changing needs and circumstances including end of life. Advance care planning and organising financial and legal matters is important.

CareSearch Video Planning ahead for end of life - Judith Leeson

Advance care planning

Advance care planning is about documenting your wishes so they can speak for you when you no longer can. This will help your family and friends to make decisions about your care if you cannot.

Advance Care Planning in Five Easy Steps - Slideshow

Financial and legal matters

As you get older, it is important to make sure your financial and legal matters are in order. This will help you if care needs change and you need extra support. It will also make it easier for your family in managing your affairs at the end of life and after your death.

Appointing someone who can act with the power of attorney and the power of guardianship means they can manage your financial and lifestyle affairs if you are no longer able to. A Substitute Decision Maker will make decisions about your care at the end of life if you are not able to. If memory and cognition are likely to become a problem, make sure you complete needed documents early.

MoneySmart has information on how to help older Australians with money matters.

Palliative care

You may not like talking about the care arrangements you want at the end of your life. But talking about it and planning can help. So don’t be afraid to start a conversation with the aged care team. For most older people living at home and coming to the end of their life, friends and families will provide care and support alongside the aged care staff and health professionals.

For older people needing palliative care support, this might be provided by your GP and community services.

For complex or unmet palliative care needs, specialists can provide additional support in your own home following referral by your GP, aged care provider or hospital staff.

You may need to coordinate care between palliative care services and home care packages or other aged care services. There might be a lot of people visiting your home. Having a family member or friend to help coordinate visits can help.

Palliative Care Australia has a list of questions that you might want to ask of the palliative care team.

For information on day-to-day palliative caring and symptom management visit the Living with illness and How to care sections.