{"id":9966,"date":"2017-03-28T13:47:25","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T19:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=9966"},"modified":"2024-12-24T09:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T16:15:06","slug":"dont-leave-family-wondering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/dont-leave-family-wondering\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t leave your family wondering"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Janet Seeley was walking out of her father\u2019s funeral with her son when she turned to him and said, \u2018Oh, by the way, I want to be cremated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her son looked at her, horrified, and stomped off.<\/p>\n

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Get started on advance care planning today by calling any of these community services: The UCHealth Aspen Club<\/a>: 970.495.8560; Health District of Northern Larimer County<\/a>: 970.482.1909; Lutheran Family Services: 303.217.5864 or 970.232.1180; SOCI: 970.449.6840.<\/p>\n

Visit uchealth.org\/aspenclub for more information, and to download The Conversation Project or advance care planning forms<\/a>. Forms are also found within your My Health Connection<\/a> account. And classes on advance directives are offered throughout UCHealth by searching “advance directives” at UCHealth’s classes and events page<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI thought it was weird he was getting so upset because he had been so helpful with my father\u2019s arrangements,\u201d she said. \u201cBut after being trained in doing The Conversation Project, I realized I was starting on the wrong end. If I wanted to have that talk, I needed to start with saying, \u2018Here are my values; what really matters to me.\u2019 Instead, I was giving him an image of me being cremated.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April, organizations, individuals and businesses participate in National Healthcare Decision Day, a week-long event to bring understanding and awareness to the value of advance health care planning.<\/p>\n

More than 90 percent of people think it\u2019s important to talk about end-of-life care, but fewer than 30 percent actually do, according to the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.<\/p>\n

UCHealth and partnering organizations, such as Larimer County Health District<\/a>, use the annual event as an opportunity to get as many people \u2014 ages 18 and up \u2014 to complete their advance care directive and share those wishes with their loved ones. For UCHealth, that means reaching out to their employees.<\/p>\n

Kevin Unger, CEO and President of UCHealth\u2019s Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies, and his wife, Stacy, completed their directives in 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery minute we spent on this was worth it. Hopefully, this will take some burden away from those who may have to make decisions for us in the future,\u201d Unger said. \u201cAnd going through the process myself further instills in me the importance of incorporating our patients\u2019 wishes and bringing their voice into care.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Kevin
Kevin Unger, CEO and President of UCHealth’s Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies, and his wife, Stacy, (on right) recently completed their directives with help from UCHealth Aspen Club staff.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Advance care directives<\/h2>\n

\u201cYou must plan ahead,\u201d said Emergency Physician Dr. Jamie Teumer. \u201cBecause more times than not, there is not time for those discussions. And if you don\u2019t want to do it for yourself, do it for your loved ones. It\u2019s tormenting for family members to have to make those decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advance directives, such as a Medical Durable Power of Attorney and Living Will, are legal documents allowing patients\u2019 doctors and loved ones to know and honor a person\u2019s wishes regarding medical treatment. The documents take effect when the patients are unable to make their own health care decisions.<\/p>\n

Each April, UCHealth in northern Colorado offers help to employees and their families in completing these forms as part of its support of National Healthcare Decisions Day, which is on April 16, through educational booths at its campuses and informational classes, such as The Conversation Project through its Aspen Club<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Start now<\/h2>\n

UCHealth\u2019s\u00a0Aspen Club<\/a>\u00a0in Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland has adopted\u00a0The Conversation Project<\/a> to help people have important discussions about end-of-life care with their loved ones in preparation of completing their advance directives.<\/p>\n

Seeley grew up in a family that talked about their end-of-life wishes at the family dinner table. She thought such discussions were normal. But she later realized \u2014 both as a physician and then with her own son \u2014 that not everyone feels comfortable talking about death and dying.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was talking to my son like he had been at all those family dinner discussions with me,\u201d Seeley said. \u201cI was going about it all wrong. He didn\u2019t want to hear any suggestion that I might die, or especially that I could become so feeble that he\u2019d have to be making the decisions. He just couldn\u2019t hear it.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>Come celebrate 30 years with the Aspen Club at these local events<\/div>
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Aspen Club is celebrating 30 years with the following events. All but one is free and all will have refreshments. Aspen Club members and guests, please join us for the following:<\/em><\/p>\n

2\u20134:30 p.m. Friday, May 10, Platte River Fort, east of Greeley<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Join us for a special meet-and-greet at this fun western-themed event center.\u00a0Enjoy the music of Brad Fitch \u2014 one of the best John Denver tribute artists in the nation and meet Marilyn Schock, president of the new UCHealth Greeley Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>4\u20136 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, Sweetheart Winery, 5500 W. US 34, in Loveland.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Join us for a celebratory gathering featuring well-known local sculptor, George Walbye. George\u2019s work is on permanent display in nationally renowned Benson Park Sculpture Garden, and his bronzes are in private collections throughout Europe, Canada and the United States.<\/p>\n

3-5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 3, Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia, in Fort Collins.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Meet Maestro David Dworkin. After a distinguished career as a widely-hailed clarinetist and conductor, he took his passion for classical music and transitioned it into an innovative, award-winning and healthful program called, \u201cConductorcise.\u201d Participants will experience a symphony performance, music history lesson and a fun \u201cconducting\u201d activity all rolled up into one.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>*This event also takes place in Longmont during the Boulder County Fair. Look for an update on the time, date and specific location at uchealth.org or in the Aspen Club newsletter. <\/em><\/p>\n

5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6<\/em><\/strong>, <\/strong>Lincoln Center, 417 W. Magnolia in Fort Collins. <\/em><\/strong>Dr. Brad Nieder is a funny speaker and clean comedian who has been described as \u201cJerry Seinfeld with an MD.\u201d Have fun as you learn why laughter really is good medicine for combating stress, feeling better and living longer. There is a cost for this event as it is in conjunction with the Aspen Club\u2019s annual holiday gala.<\/p>\n

Aspen club offers an array of health, education and fitness programs and screenings to its members (and free membership) throughout northern Colorado. To see what you might benefit from or to sign up for an event, visit uchealth.org\/aspenclub<\/a> or call 970.495.8560.<\/div><\/div><\/em><\/div>\n

The paperwork is done, now what?<\/h2>\n

It is very important that people review their wishes \u2014 and the fact that they have advance directives \u2014 with their loved ones so there is no confusion in the final days.<\/p>\n

Teumer recommends that people not only have the conversation with their family, but also with their primary care doctor or other medical professional.<\/p>\n

UCHealth can help people complete these forms in My Health Connection<\/a>, or a UCHealth chaplain can also provide more information and direction.<\/p>\n

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To help individuals take next steps when they are ready, UCHealth has new tools available through\u00a0My Health Connection<\/a>, the personalized and secure online access to an individual\u2019s medical record.<\/p>\n

Through My Health Connection, individuals can:<\/p>\n