Advance Care Planning
End of Life Care: The 6% of Medicare beneficiaries who die each year account for 30% of yearly Medicare expenditures on medical treatments, with repeated hospitalizations a frequent occurrence at the end of life. There are many opportunities to improve the care of patients at the end of life.
Advance Care Planning: A process over time of understanding, reflecting on and discussing future medical decisions, including end-of-life preferences. Advanced care planning includes:
Understanding your health care treatment options
Clarifying your health care goals
Weighing your options about what kind of care and treatment you would want or not want
Making decisions about whether you want to appoint a health care agent and/or complete an advance directive
Communicating your wishes and any documents with your family, friends, clergy, other advisors and physician and other health care professionals.
National Healthcare Decisions Day
Every year on April 16 (the day after taxes) the Coalition honors National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) by sharing information about advance directives with the community. NHDD exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. NHDD is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.
2024
This year we intentionally celebrate the universal and unifying role that Advance Directives play in our lives. The From All Walks of Life panel will provide inspiration and connection as they share their advance care planning journeys. Time will be allotted after the panel discussion for local social workers to assist individuals in completing their documents.
2022
We came together virtually in 2022 welcoming another diverse panel celebrating younger community members. Our panelists included Amy Baltes, Veronica Chiapete, Representative Tod Ohnstad, Joe Potente, and Officer Steve Winter.
2021
2020 reminded us of many things - like what's most important in life, how to be flexible and adapt. There were too many unexpected losses and difficult situations in which loved ones were separated at a time when we needed to be together most. But we didn't let the pandemic stop our need to show up for one another in any way we could. We learned to keep moving forward and we even picked up some new technology skills along the way.
In 2021 we return to the panel of local leaders including Adelene Greene, Judge Jodi Meier, Representative Tip McGuire, Chaplain David Baugher, Dorthia Wilson and Dr. Steve Rommelfanger who share their stories of the value and importance of completing an advance directive. We may be virtual but the message is more important than ever.
Watch the: Zoom Panel NHDD 2021
2019
For the second year, the Kenosha County Care Transitions Coalition has identified community members who have had a variety of experiences with completing an advance directive. Sheriff Beth completed his a year ago as part of a class offered for Kenosha County employees. Principal Kaufmann and Reverend Lowe have been meaning to get this done for some time now. Mayor Antaramian, Nancy Salerno and Cameron Swallow completed theirs a while ago and it’s time to review it. Grammy award winner, Graham Nash taped an interview for the event about his experience with advance directives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvF1wLuS2UA&feature=youtu.be. From rock stars to public servants, everyone can benefit from Advance Care Planning!
2018
Our event included a panel of local celebrities who had completed their Power of Attorney for Healthcare in the month of March and spoke about their experience.
2017
The coalition hosted 2 open houses where community members could come and complete their advance directive.
Other Links:
National Health Care Decisions Day
Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Dying in America
Communication about Serious Illness Care Goals: A Review and Synthesis of Best Practices