The event will be from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on the hospital’s first-floor concourse across from the Café at Twelve Hundred. Community members who attend will receive a $3 voucher good toward an item at the Reid Espresso Bar.
Staff members from the community benefit department will be available to assist with the documents and answer questions. Two documents will be available at the event:
- Healthcare power of attorney: This legal document allows an individual to empower another person to make decisions regarding his or her medical care. Healthcare power of attorney becomes active when a person is unable to make decisions or consciously communicate preferences regarding treatments.
- Living will: This legal document allows a person to communicate his or her wishes regarding life-prolonging medical treatments.
“When we communicate our end-of-life wishes to loved ones, they can honor our desires when it matters most,” said Billie Kester, director of continuum of care at Reid. “All too often, families are forced to make decisions that they are not prepared to make, and it can be a very traumatic experience for everyone.”
Kester added that according to a national survey by The Conversation Project, more than 90 percent of those surveyed said it is important to talk about end-of-life care for themselves and their loved ones. But less than 30 percent said they had discussed what they or their family want when it comes to end-of-life care.
The Reid Hospital website offers extensive resources to help community members start the conversation about end-of-life wishes, including a toolkit, checklist and more. To learn more, please visit www.ReidHospital.org/decide.
Appointments for the Healthcare Decisions Day event are not necessary, but those who wish to schedule a time can do so by calling (765) 935-8824.
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