Discuss End-of-Life Care During Free Advanced Directive Workshop On October 12 At Lakewood Congregational Church

Talking about dying is never easy. Most of us tend to think that there’s plenty of time for that conversation, while many don’t want to discuss it at all.

As a seasoned hospice and hospital chaplain, Sandie King has worked with hundreds of families as they struggle to make heart-wrenching decisions about their loved ones end-of-life care. 

“No matter how old or how young, how sick or how healthy, none of us know what the next day will bring,” says King, a Lakewood resident. “When that day comes, expectedly or unexpectedly, it is a tremendous comfort to family and friends to know that the decisions made and the actions taken will reflect the wishes of their loved one.”

The best thing anyone can do, King says, is to create a formal advanced directive that informs both family members and healthcare providers of specific desires and procedures for end-of-life care. These legal documents are completed by adults during times of good health, in advance of an illness or accident that could leave the individual unable to express his or her wishes.

King will discuss how to do this during a special, free Advance Directives Workshop at on Saturday, October 12, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at Lakewood Congregational Church (LCC), 1375 West Clifton Blvd. Open to the public, the workshop is part of the church’s ongoing community outreach efforts.

During the session, King will provide detailed information on both the Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will documents that make up Ohio’s advance directives. Advance Directive packets will be available to all participants.

As King, notes, hospitals want to provide their patients with not only with the highest care, but the treatment they desire. 

“Every person has the right to determine how vigorously he or she would want to pursue life-sustaining measures when the end of life is near,” she says. “For this reason, the conversations with those close to you are so vital. I encourage my patients to talk with family, with friends, with their doctor; know the options and decide what’s right for them, and then…put it in writing!”

All are welcome to attend this free workshop. Reservations are required. Contact the LCC office at 216.221.9555 or lccstaff@lcc-church.org to secure a spot or to get more information.

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Volume 9, Issue 20, Posted 8:12 PM, 10.03.2013