TALKING TOGETHER
What would you do if a serious medical emergency arose for your adult child, your closest friend or an elderly neighbor? Do you know what kind of care they would want, and who they appointed to make medical decisions for them?
Even in the most supportive environments, it can be difficult for family, friends, and neighbors to talk about what’s important to them, and what kind of care they would want if they were unable to make decisions themselves. Starting these discussions in community groups- like your faith group, senior living, a club or service group – is a comfortable and effective way to explore health care planning at any age. Group members come together to share the experience and explore medical information and options, reflect on personal values and beliefs, and review Massachusetts planning documents. Adults support each another to make a personal plan and activate that plan for quality care right now, and all through their life.
That’s what an Honoring Choices Group Discussion Workshop can offer. Ted Aransky, Geriatric Care Manager, Overlook CARE would agree. “Just by having the right information, group members often feel quite empowered.”
Ted is facilitating monthly group discussion meetings at the Center for Living Well, at The Overlook in Charlton. “The open forum model allows adults to comfortably share their life experiences.” People learn from each other about their good and not so good health care experiences. It helps each group member think about what he or she wants for care both right now, and in planning for end of life. Ted leads the group through information and planning tools to help them make or update their personal plans. For adults who don’t have local family or other personal connections, the group provides an extended family to listen and support a person in getting the care they want.
As a Community Partner, Honoring Choices provides planning tools and the group discussion workshop for Ted to tailor for his monthly discussion topics. Kate Granigan, Vice President of Geriatric Care Management, Overlook C.A.R.E., has championed the 12 month group discussion program to enhance their mission. “We are committed to helping seniors have a place to share, learn and make choices.” say Ms. Granigan. “Having regularly scheduled group discussion meetings are a great way to educate and empower people to make informed choices, so we can continue to support their choices and provide good care to manage illness and improve quality of life.”
One of the positive outcomes that Ted has observed is that “the group members are starting to see health care planning as a process, and not a one time event, where you complete a Health Care Proxy and put it in a drawer.” Ted says the group discussion helps members understand the tools they can use to communicate their choices, and to work in partnership with their care providers to get the care they want.
Read more at Talking Together, Empowering Each Other.