Make informed decisions about your future now...
The Advance Agency will empower you to create a customized plan now for how you envision your life as you age, using our extensive library of resources. We will help you make informed choices before there’s an urgent need for decisions, when a health event may make it difficult for you to communicate your intentions and access to resources may be limited. You will avoid the pitfall of uninformed decisions, family divisions, and crisis decision making.
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.”
~ Alan Lakein
Planning ahead brings peace of mind to you and the people who are important to you. The Advance Agency will help you to:
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Determine how you desire to live your life should you require some type of assistance with daily living as you age
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Establish a customized plan reflecting your values and wishes by adopting our extensive resources and proven solutions developed over the past 16+ years
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Document your plan, appoint an Agent to ensure your plan is adhered to, and share your plan with anyone who may be involved in supporting this plan including family, trustees, legal counsel and financial advisors
The Benefits of Advance Care Planning
The Advance Agency will work with you to make informed decisions now. Creating a plan is for every adult age 50 or older. As you approach your senior years, advance care planning helps you to determine the type of life you desire to live as you age by addressing your physical health as well as your emotional wellbeing. You will learn what our public healthcare system is able to provide and understand the numerous private resources available to supplement these services.
The Right Team
Our Founding Director, Susan Smed, has dedicated her entire career to delivering exceptional client care. Over the past sixteen years, Susan has been committed to helping aging clients live life on their terms while working with them and their families to navigate a labyrinth of public and private healthcare and emotional wellness options. During this time, she realized the importance of developing a plan while we're in good health. Her extensive experience will provide you with a vast library of resources to help you establish a plan, addressing your overall wellbeing, giving you the benefit of a happy and healthy senior experience.
“When possible, make the decisions now, even if action is in the future. A revised decision usually is better than one reached at the last moment.”
~ William B. Given
"I am one of 6 children, and the youngest daughter, so when our mother needed assistance with daily living, I was happy to step in. As our mother’s needs progressed, I began to explore the resources required to allow her to age safely and comfortably in her home.
There’s no one place you can contact to help secure caregivers, mobility aides, health supplies, etc. I spent hundreds of hours online along with reaching out to professionals and friends to try to find what we needed when we needed it.
Often, responding in crisis, I would have to make last minute decisions and we often paid a premium because of this. This became an issue between my siblings and I as there was simply no time for consultation.
I became resentful and exhausted, sometimes even being short with my lovely mother.
I really wish there was an opportunity to thoughtfully plan for this time in our mother's life to make her more comfortable and to reduce stress and fracture within our family."
“Canada’s population is projected to age substantially in the years ahead. Specifically, while individuals aged 65 and older accounted for 16.2% of the total population in 2018, they are projected to account for 23.4% of the population in 2040.”
~ Fraser Institute
FAQs:
What if I already have a will?
You may have a Personal Directive and a Living Will, but these documents don’t address how you envision living life to the fullest as you age. It’s also important to know that documentation specific to Alberta may interfere with these documents
Doesn't Alberta Health Services cover this?
Alberta Health Services offers basic, limited healthcare support however, there are many other services that will enhance your experience as you age. We are living longer lives and our present public healthcare services are unable to respond to the unprecedented growth in this sector.
I already know what I want, so I'm good, right?
Obstacles to delivering an extraordinary client experience may include a sudden medical event, which can leave you unable to communicate your wishes while leaving others to determine next steps. Working out, and documenting a plan beforehand, guarantees family unity concerning your wishes.