Background: Think Ahead is a public awareness initiative of the Forum on End of Life in Ireland. The Think Ahead Form (www.thinkahead.ie) guides people in recording important information in the event that they are unable to speak for themselves, due to serious illness, emergency or death.
Aim: To engage the public to use Think Ahead and to build capacity of community organisations and health care professionals to empower people to use the tool if they wish.
Method: A 'Think Ahead' form and website were designed and launched as guidance tools for the public. A range of processes were also engaged in, including: Public consultation Consultation with key stakeholders GP research: involving 120 people up to 70 years of age, examined people's experiences of filling in the Think Ahead form Nursing home research: involving staff and residents in nursing homes in Kildare in 2014 Regional community- based pilots: Regional pilots took place in Limerick and Louth, late 2012 Train the trainer programmes with community organisations
Results: Very positive outcomes for patients and GPs Nursing home staff empowered to enable residents to express their preferences 80% of public believed that Think Ahead would be of interest to the general public 30,000 forms distributed since 2011 Active Retirement Ireland rolling out Think Ahead
Conclusion: The research and public engagement activities have shown that Think Ahead is a citizen-led practical tool which people can use as part of their planning for end of life.
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