Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Advance Care Planning and working with Sorted Planning.

Ready to Start? Your ACP Journey begins with a simple intake form that takes 15-20 minutes to complete.

Get Started With The Intake Form

About Advance Care Planning (ACP)

  • Advance Care Planning is the globally recognized process that involves thinking about and sharing what matters most to you—so that if you ever become seriously ill or injured and can't speak for yourself, the people you trust know how to make decisions that honour your values.

    It's not about predicting the future or making medical decisions in advance. It's about clarifying your priorities and giving your loved ones guidance when they need it most.

    In Ontario, ACP is a collaborative process, and while doctors normally lead the medical side, many other professionals facilitate these conversations. It is a misconception that only doctors can have these talks. In fact, Ontario's healthcare system encourages an interdisciplinary approach.

    Doctors, and sometimes Nurse Practitioner, are specifically required for a “Goals of Care” and Consent stages.

    ACP is the preparation (values/wishes). Goals of Care is a critical medical stage that bridges the gap between your ACP and the specific medical treatments a doctor prescribes you to meet those goals. This typically happens when you are seriously ill and specific medical decisions need to be made soon, whereas ACP can happen at any stage.

  • No. They serve different purposes:

    • A will deals with your finances and property after you die.

    • A Power of Attorney for Property allows someone to manage your finances if you become incapable.

    • A Power of Attorney for Personal Care (POA-PC) appoints someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you can't.

    • Advance Care Planning is the conversation and document that helps your POA-PC (or Substitute Decision-Maker) understand what you would want.

    Your ACP Summary Document is not a legal document, but it guides the legal decision-makers in your life.

  • In Ontario, all adults are presumed to have the capacity to engage in ACP unless there's clear evidence otherwise.

    If you can:

    • Complete the intake form independently

    • Understand what ACP is and why you're doing it

    • Reflect on your values and preferences

    • Communicate your thoughts clearly

    ...then you're ready for this process.

    If I have concerns during our sessions about your ability to participate meaningfully, I'll pause our work and recommend you speak with a healthcare provider.

    Your well-being is the priority, and I'll only continue if I'm confident this process serves you well.

  • Serious illness and injury don't only happen to older people. Accidents, sudden illness, and unexpected medical events can happen at any age.

    The people who benefit most from ACP are often those who start before they need it—when they have time to think clearly, reflect deeply, and communicate openly.

    If it's important to you that your wishes are respected when you can't communicate them yourself, ACP is valuable immediately.

  • Not at all. ACP is for anyone who wants clarity about their future healthcare decisions—regardless of current health status.

    In fact, many people find it easier to do ACP when they're healthy, because they can think clearly and take their time without the pressure of an active health crisis.

    Whether you're perfectly healthy, managing a chronic condition, or living with a life-limiting illness, ACP is valuable.

  • Ontario's healthcare system is unique:

    • Healthcare providers must obtain consent in the moment. They can't follow advance directives alone.

    • If you can't consent, a Substitute Decision-Maker (SDM) or Power of Attorney for Personal Care (POA-PC) decides for you. Their job is to follow your known wishes, values, and beliefs as closely as possible.

    This is why ACP conversations matter so much in Ontario - your decision-maker(s) need to know what you'd want because they'll be asked to decide for you based on your values, not theirs.

    For more information, visit Speak Up Ontario.

  • That's okay—most people don't when they start ACP.

    If you haven't legally appointed someone, Ontario uses a legal hierarchy to determine who can make decisions for you (Substitute Decision Maker or SDM): spouse/partner, then children, then parents, then siblings, etc.

    Our work together will help you:

    • Understand what a POA-PC is

    • Identify who might serve in this role or as a SDM

    • Clarify what guidance they would need

    After our sessions, I can provide you with information about formalizing the appointment.

  • Not always. Healthcare is unpredictable, and medical circumstances or legal requirements may make it impossible to follow every preference exactly.

    The purpose of ACP is to guide decisions as closely as possible to your values when real-world constraints are present. Your ACP Summary Document gives your decision-makers a clear framework—even when the situation is complicated.

  • No. The core ACP process focuses on healthcare decisions while you're alive — things like medical interventions, quality of life, and who makes decisions if you can't.

    Death and end-of-life planning is available as a separate optional session. Many people need to focus on medical decision-making first, without the added weight of planning for death in the same conversation.

    If and when you're ready to explore what happens after death — body disposition, rituals, memorial wishes — that's a different conversation we can have.

About the Process with Sorted Planning

  • Advance Care Planning is deeply connected to provincial healthcare law, and each Canadian province has different:

    • Healthcare consent legislation

    • Power of Attorney requirements and forms

    • Healthcare system structures and decision-making processes

    • Legal definitions of capacity and substitute decision-makers

    I'm familiar with Ontario's Health Care Consent Act and healthcare system. This means I can provide guidance for people navigating Ontario's framework. My Ontario focus ensures you receive guidance that's accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with the healthcare system you'll actually interact with.

  • A discovery call is a brief, no-pressure conversation (15 minutes) where you can:

    • Ask questions about the process

    • Share what brings you to ACP

    • Get a sense of whether we're a good fit

    • Clarify any concerns before committing

    It's completely optional—many people go straight to the intake form. But if you'd like to talk first, I'm happy to make time.

  • Session 1 (90 minutes):

    • Getting to know you and what matters most

    • Understanding your life context, roles, relationships, and supports

    • Exploring how past healthcare experiences shape your views

    • Beginning to clarify what "quality of life" means to you

    Session 2 (90 minutes):

    • Reviewing your workbook reflections together

    • Reviewing and refining the first draft of your ACP Summary Document

    • Exploring how your values apply to real-life medical scenarios

    • Clarifying specific guidance for your decision-makers

    • Discussing next steps for documenting and sharing your wishes

  • From start to finish, most clients complete the process in 4-6 weeks:

    • Week 1: Complete intake form, schedule Session 1

    • Weeks 2-3: Session 1, complete workbooks between sessions

    • Week 4: Session 2, submit Post Meeting 2 Form

    • Weeks 5-6: Receive ACP Summary Document

    You can take more time if needed—there's no rush.

  • Life happens. You can reschedule sessions with 24 hours' notice (where possible), and you're welcome to pause the process at any time.

    If you complete Session 1 but need to pause before Session 2, you can return when you're ready—there's no penalty.

  • That's completely normal. These conversations can bring up grief, fear, love, gratitude, and everything in between. Tears, laughter, and long pauses are all part of the process.

    I create space for whatever comes up. We can take breaks, slow down, or pause entirely if needed. This is your process, at your pace.

    Emotion is not a sign that something's wrong—it's often a sign that we're touching on what matters most.

  • No. You're not choosing treatments or predicting the future.

    Our conversations focus on your values, priorities, and what matters most to you. The workbooks help you reflect on how those values might guide decisions in different situations—but you're not making binding medical choices.

  • Your ACP Summary is a personalised document (typically 8-10 pages) that includes:

    • What matters most to you (values, beliefs, priorities)

    • Your Substitute Decision-Maker(s) and their contact information

    • Your life roles and responsibilities

    • How past experiences shape your healthcare views

    • Guidance for common medical situations

    • Your preferences for information sharing, comfort, and care environment

    • A message to the people who may one day speak for you"

    It's written in plain language—easy for your loved ones and healthcare providers to understand.

  • Your ACP Summary Document is meant to be shared and used:

    ✓ Share it with your Substitute Decision-Maker or Power of Attorney for Personal Care

    ✓ Give copies to your family doctor and any specialists involved in your care

    ✓ Keep a copy somewhere accessible at home

    ✓ Discuss it with your loved ones so they understand your wishes and their role

    ✓ Set a reminder to review it annually — and update it if anything significant changes

    Your ACP only works if the people who need it know it exists.

  • I bring:

    • Personal experience as a cancer patient and family caregiver

    • 250+ hours volunteering in palliative care

    • Thanatology education from Humber College (Study of Death & Dying)

    • Training in Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) from Wilfred Laurier University

    • Traumatic Bereavement training from Wilfred Laurier University

    • 14+ years in organizational planning and change management

    • Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Southampton.

    My role is to guide you through the ACP process with clarity, compassion, and structure—so you can articulate what matters most and share it with the people who need to know.

    I'm not a doctor, lawyer, or therapist—and that's intentional. ACP isn't about medical advice, legal documents, or therapy.

  • All client information is:

    • Kept strictly confidential

    • Stored securely using encrypted systems

    • Only shared with your explicit permission

    Confidentiality has limits only when legally required—such as imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, disclosure of child abuse or neglect, or a court order.

    Find out more: https://www.sortedplanning.com/privacy

  • I retain all session notes, workbook responses, and your ACP Summary Document securely for 7 years from your last session. This supports continuity of care if you return for updates.

    You may request copies or deletion of your records at any time. Find out more: https://www.sortedplanning.com/privacy

  • Absolutely. Life changes—and your plan should too.

    You'll receive annual reminders to review your ACP, and you're welcome to schedule update sessions anytime your circumstances, relationships, or values evolve.

    Update sessions are billed separately.

  • If someone you refer goes on to purchase an Advance Care Planning package, I offer a complimentary 60-minute review session as a thank-you.

    Referrals are acknowledged when a new client confirms who referred them at the time of booking.

About Working with Jemima

Logistics

  • Virtual sessions are offered across Ontario via Google Meet and are the standard format for most clients.

    In-person sessions are available in Hamilton, Ontario, where travel time is no more than 30 minutes each way. Options include your home, a private room at a local library, outdoors in a quiet spot, or a walking conversation — whatever feels most comfortable for you. I use wireless microphones so the conversation is captured clearly wherever we meet.

    Not sure which format is right for you? You can mix and match — choose virtual for one session and in-person for the other. Each session is priced individually. Book a discovery call to talk through what might work best.

  • You'll need:

    • A computer, tablet, or smartphone

    • A stable internet connection

    • A quiet, private space

    Google Meet setup:

    • No Google account required

    • No download necessary (works in your browser)

    • Camera is helpful but not required

    • Just click the meeting link in your calendar invitation.

  • Currently, Sorted Planning only serves clients in Ontario, as the ACP process is specific to Ontario's healthcare consent laws.

    If you're located elsewhere in Canada, I recommend visiting Advance Care Planning Canada to find resources in your province.

Payment

    • Virtual sessions (Ontario-wide): $350 per session

    • In-person sessions (Hamilton only): $425 per session

    Each session is paid individually before it takes place. The full ACP process requires both sessions to complete your personalised ACP Summary Document.

    This includes:

    • Two 90-minute guided sessions

    • All workbooks and guides

    • Your personalised ACP Summary Document with unlimited revisions to sign-off

    • First-year revision support — one complimentary round of revisions if anything changes

    • 30-day check-in call

    • Annual reminder to review your plan

  • Payment is collected in two stages:

    Session 1 payment:

    • Due at the time of booking, before Session 1 takes place

    • Covers your first session and all preparation work

    • Non-refundable once Session 1 has been completed

    Session 2 payment:

    • Due between Session 1 and Session 2 via the Post-Session 1 form

    • Required before Session 2 is scheduled

    • Non-refundable once Session 2 has been completed and drafting has begun

    • You may switch formats between sessions — virtual or in-person — and the correct amount will be charged automatically

  • Not at this time, if cost is a barrier, please reach out—I'm happy to discuss options.

  • What if I start but don't finish the process?

    You're welcome to pause at any time — there's no pressure to continue if it doesn't feel right.

    • If you cancel before Session 1, you'll receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee

    • If you complete Session 1 but decide not to continue, you won't be charged for Session 2. The first draft of your ACP Summary Document shared after Session 1 is yours to keep

    • Once the Session 2 payment is made and drafting begins, it becomes non-refundable.

    If you'd like to return after a pause, just get in touch. You're welcome to resume within 12 months using your original session notes and founding client rate. After 12 months, a new intake form and current pricing will apply, though we'll assess together how much ground needs to be covered.

    • Before Session 1: You can cancel anytime and receive a full refund minus a $50 administrative fee.

    • After Session 1 is completed: The Session 1 payment is non-refundable, as facilitation and preparation work has been completed. You won't be charged for Session 2 unless you choose to continue.

    • After Session 2 payment is made: Once payment is received and drafting begins, the Session 2 payment is non-refundable.

    • Pausing: You're welcome to pause the process at any time and return later. If you resume within 12 months, your original session notes and founding client rate will apply. After 12 months, a new intake form and current pricing will apply — though we'll assess together how much ground needs to be covered.

    • Rescheduling: Please provide at least 24 hours' notice where possible. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice may be forfeited.

  • Advance Care Planning can be a meaningful gift, but it must always be entered into willingly by the person participating.

    If you would like to purchase an Advance Care Planning package as a gift, please contact me directly. Gift packages are issued as a certificate with a unique code and expiry date.

    The recipient activates the gift themselves when they are ready and completes their own intake form. Intake forms should not be completed on someone else’s behalf.

Still Have Questions?

I’m happy to offer a free 15-minute discovery call or you can email me: jemima@sortedplanning.com