Sechelt Hospital Foundation invites the public to attend its first MedTalk of 2025, Family Matters: Advance Care Planning and Honouring Health Care Wishes, on April 24th at Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt. The session will cover advance care planning, who needs one and when, and the legal and ethical intricacies involved.
Advance Care Planning is a process where individuals reflect on their values, document written instruction about what health care they do or do not want in the future and communicate those preferences to caregivers and health care providers now.
“Should you become unable to speak for yourself, who will speak for you, and what are your wishes for health care treatment?” asks Dr. Carmen Goodjha, Palliative Care physician on the Sunshine Coast. “The answer to this question requires careful consideration, but having a plan in place becomes a gift you give to your loved ones—to have your affairs in order and a clear path ahead.”
Thanks to the Sunshine Coast Credit Union’s continued sponsorship of MedTalks, Family Matters is Sechelt Hospital Foundation’s 28th MedTalk to date. The lecture series is part of the Foundation’s mandate to support health and wellness education in the community, and an opportunity to celebrate local health care. Well over 50 hours of MedTalks have been recorded to date and are available at SecheltHospitalFoundation.org for the public to access in perpetuity.
“MedTalks provides a deep dive into the important health topics of the day, as curated by health care leadership and audience feedback,” explains Jane Macdonald, executive director at Sechelt Hospital Foundation. “We like to shine a light on the abundant resources we have available locally, and to help our community navigate their health care journeys.”
To support our community of donors, supporters, friends and families in this pursuit, Family Matters will bring to the stage Goojha, Carmen Sombrowski, (lawyer, Flemming & Sombrowski), Chloe Delany (social worker), and Kim Jameson, a bio-medical ethicist from Vancouver Coastal Health to discuss advance care planning. Tools and guides will be available for the public to take home and have these important conversations with their family.
A resource fair will be set up in the theatre lobby for attendees to make important contacts in the community for additional support. Representatives include Sunshine Coast Hospice Society’s Green Sleeve program, Vancouver Coastal Health’s Home Care team, the Sunshine Coast Auxiliary Loan Cupboard, and Sunshine Coast Resource Centre.
Family Matters is open to the public by donation and will be held at Raven’s Cry Theatre on April 24, 12-2 p.m. The resource fair will be open in the lobby from 11:30-2:30 p.m. Visit SecheltHospitalFoundation.org to RSVP and watch past MedTalks recordings.
