Planning Ahead Month – The conversations that matter

There are some conversations we all know are important, but they’re often the easiest ones to put off.

Making a will. Thinking about future healthcare. Talking with our loved ones about what matters most to us.

At Nelson Tasman Hospice, we understand that these conversations can feel difficult. Yet taking the time to plan ahead is one of the greatest gifts we can give the people we love. It can provide clarity, reduce uncertainty and give everyone greater peace of mind.

That’s why we’re launching Planning Ahead Month this September – a series of free community events designed to make planning for the future a little easier.

Whether you’ve been meaning to update your will, want to understand more about Advance Care Planning, or are simply curious to learn more about the work of Hospice, there’s something for everyone.       

Ask a Lawyer @ Hospice

Have you been putting off making or updating your will because you’re not sure where to start?

Throughout Planning Ahead Month, local legal professionals from Atkinson Crehan Law and Senior Law will be volunteering their time to answer general questions about wills and estate planning.

These informal sessions are an opportunity to ask questions, understand your options and learn what your next steps might be. They’re not formal legal consultations, but they are a great place to start if you’ve been meaning to get your affairs in order.

Pitt & Moore, Atkinson Crehan Law and Senior Law are also generously supporting Hospice by donating $50 for every new will signed during September, helping to ensure specialist palliative care continues to be available, free of charge, to people and families across our region.

Advance Care Planning

Planning ahead isn’t just about your finances or your possessions – it’s also about your healthcare.

The free Advance Care Planning workshop offered by Mary-ann Hardcastle (ACP facilitator), will explore how you can think about, record and communicate what matters most to you should there come a time when you’re unable to speak for yourself.

Having these conversations early can provide reassurance for you and your loved ones and help ensure your wishes are understood.

Info here: ACP Workshop Details and Registration

Dying to Know

Death and dying are topics many of us find difficult to talk about, yet they are experiences we will all face in some way.

Our Dying to Know about Dying Matters workshop offers a welcoming and supportive space to explore why these conversations matter, challenge some common myths and discover how talking openly can help us better support ourselves, our families and our communities.

You don’t need to have all the answers – just a willingness to start the conversation.

Info here: Dying Matters workshop information and registration

Discover Your Hospice

Planning Ahead Month is also an opportunity to step inside your Hospice.

Our Hospice facility was built by the generosity of this community, for this community, and we’re proud to open our doors for guided tours throughout the month.

Visitors will have the chance to learn more about the care we provide, meet members of our team and discover that Hospice is much more than a building. Every day, our doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and volunteers support people and families across Nelson Tasman – in their own homes, in hospital, in aged residential care and within our Specialist Palliative Care Unit.

We hope that by seeing your Hospice firsthand, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the difference community support makes and the vital role Hospice plays across our region.

One conversation today can make tomorrow a little easier.

Planning Ahead Month is about making it easier to have the conversations we’ve been meaning to have and take the practical steps that can make life easier for the people we love.

Whether you choose to ask a lawyer, attend a workshop, take a tour or simply learn something new, we’d love to welcome you.

Together, let’s start the conversations that matter.