Advanced Healthcare Workshops Planned At Vintage House In April

A number of local organizations have come together to co-sponsor educational events during April on the importance of advance healthcare planning. Events are based around National Healthcare Decisions Day, which occurs each year to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.

Sponsoring organizations are Sonoma Valley Hospital, Vintage House, My Care My Plan: Speak Up Sonoma County, Hospice by the Bay, Healing at Home, and the Sonoma Valley Community Health Center.

Taylor McCandless, MSW, Medical Social Worker with Healing at Home and Co-Chair of My Care, My Plan: Speak Up Sonoma County will lead two workshops on April 18 where participants can learn about the importance of advance care planning and how to put it in writing. On April 25, Taylor will lead two more sessions that will spotlight the Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST).

Joining McCandless at the Advance Health Care Directive workshop will be Jill Cordova Holt, Social Worker (Hospice by the Bay), and joining her for the POLST session will be Alicia Garcia, Social Worker (Hospice by the Bay).

All sessions will be held at Vintage House in Room 113 located at 264 1^st Street East in Sonoma. There is no cost to attend, but seating is limited and pre-registration is encouraged. Register online at vintagehouse.org/events or by calling Vintage House at 707.996.0311.

Thursday, April 18
Advance Health Care Directives: “Who Will Speak For You When You Can’t?
Daytime Session: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Evening Session: 6:00pm – 7:30 pm

Thursday, April 25
The POLST: “What Is A Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment?”
Daytime Session: 1:30 – 3:00 pm
Evening Session: 6:00pm – 7:30 pm

Information and helpful tools for talking about your wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers are available at www.mycaremyplansonoma.org. My Care, My Plan: Speak Up Sonoma County, is an Advance Care Planning community initiative that aims to encourage everyone age 18 and older to contemplate, communicate about, and document their healthcare wishes.