New national ‘You Know Me’ campaign encourages adults in Kildare to plan for the future
Local Minister, Martin Heydon TD has offered his support to the campaign
Kildare South Fine Gael TD, and Minster for Agriculture, Food and Marine, Martin Heydon has said that a new national information campaign encouraging adults to plan ahead for life’s key decisions is a welcome and timely initiative for people across Kildare.
The campaign, titled 'You Know Me', has been launched by the Mental Health Commission (MHC), alongside the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE).
Minister Heydon said: “This campaign is an important step for individuals and families across Kildare, as it aims to support people to think ahead and make their wishes known before a time ever comes when they may need support making decisions.
“Advance planning is something that affects every family, in every community across Kildare. Whether it’s about future healthcare decisions or choosing someone you trust to act on your behalf, planning ahead can provide clarity, reassurance and peace of mind, not just for individuals, but also for those closest to them”.
Continuing, Minister Heydon said: “The fact that more than 6,000 people have registered for an Enduring Powers of Attorney across Ireland in the last three years signifies that there is a demand for this service, and that people in all parts of the country, including Kildare, need to be aware of the benefits of putting in place an Enduring Power of Attorney and an Advance Healthcare Directive. Every person deserves to have their will and preference known, and I very much hope this public campaign spreads that message.”
The You Know Me campaign will run throughout the summer and into the autumn, and will be seen on TV, radio and across digital platforms. It aims to encourage a national shift in how advance planning is understood, including greater awareness of Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Healthcare Directives, which are supported through the Decision Support Service.
This campaign is supported by a wide range of stakeholders across health, social care and the advocacy sectors, including the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Irish Hospice Foundation, Nursing Homes Ireland, Family Carers Ireland, Safeguarding Ireland and Age Friendly Ireland.
The campaign rollout also comes ahead of the statutory review of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 later this year, and coincides with three years since the commencement of the Act and the establishment of the Decision Support Service, reflecting both the progress made to date and the ongoing need to increase awareness and uptake of advance planning tools across Irish society.
Members of the public are encouraged to learn more and begin their advance planning journey by visiting www.advanceplanning.ie