The Comox Valley Hospice Society is encouraging you to start the conversation about your wishes for end-of-life care using your own creativity through an innovative artistic expression project called heARTful Expressions.
It allows community members to explore their beliefs, values and wishes about advance care planning in a creative format. These conversations and advance care plans are gifts to family members and friends in the event that one is ever incapable of consenting to or requesting treatment or other care.
The project is intended to value personal creativity as a beneficial avenue for advance care planning communication. Through heARTful Expressions, individuals and groups are invited to create works of art that reflect the significance of having the talk.
Residents of all ages are encouraged to speak from the heart and explore the issues, ideas, and concerns that may arise when trying to express one's personal wishes about advance care planning.
"HeARTful Expressions is an engaging way to communicate with residents about this common issue, and the Comox Valley Hospice is hoping that the submissions will be as diverse as the community," says local performer Judy Wing. "By expressing these ideas through the arts, the information becomes more personal, and allows for flexible views and outcomes.
"This is a great opportunity for artists of all kinds to contribute to the well being of the community and have their work shared in a public forum such as exhibitions or live performances. It may even inspire new collaborations within the Valley."
Individuals and/or groups wishing to participate are asked to first register their project with the Comox Valley Hospice Society by June 30 at www.advancecareplanningcv.ca or by calling 250-339-5533.
Participants will be invited to submit their final heARTful Expressions creative work once their registration has been received and reviewed. Final artwork is due by Sept. 15.
The Comox Valley Hospice Society will host a two-hour interactive workshop May 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Berwick Comox Valley at 1700 Comox Ave. in Comox. To RSVP, phone 250-339-1690.
For more information on this and other advance care planning events, call the CVHS at 250-339-5533 or visit www.advancecareplanningcv.ca.
— Comox Valley Hospice Society