KAUKAUNA, Wis. (April 11, 2024) —St. Paul Elder Services (SPES), a community dedicated to enriching the life experience of the individuals it serves, announces its upcoming advance care planning workshop, scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., at its Haen Community Center located at 316 E. 14th St, Kaukauna (map).
SPES is presenting the workshop for assisted living leaders and nursing home social workers in partnership with Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership(FVACPP) in honor of National Healthcare Decision Day. Celebrated on April 16, National Healthcare Decision Day exists to educate and empower people about the importance of advance care planning, a critical aspect of healthcare that often goes overlooked.
“Advance care planning is the process of sharing values and goals for future healthcare,” explained FVACPP executive director Bobbie Thompson. “For those working in long-term care, understanding and facilitating advance care planning is essential because the process is not just about preparing for the end of life; it is about making sure that every stage of care aligns with the individual’s wishes.”
“We believe the foundation of quality long-term care is rooted in communication,” added Becky Reichelt, SPES executive vice president. “Our goal with this workshop is to equip our community’s social workers and long-term care professionals with the understanding and skills necessary to guide those they serve through the complexities of advance care planning.”
Key workshop discussion and learnings will include:
- Medical Insights: Attendees will hear from two physicians about the role of advance care planning in healthcare.
- Beliefs and Decisions: SPES’ director of mission and spiritual care will present about the connections between personal beliefs and decision-making.
- Personal Perspective: An advocate of advance care planning will share her viewpoint on the importance of these plans and decisions.
- Professional Panel: Local professionals from various sectors, including independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, hospice and hospitals will participate in a panel discussion.
The workshop will cost $50 to attend; the National Association of Social Workers, Wisconsin Chapter, approved this program for four continuing education hours. For those unable to attend in person, a virtual attendance option is available.
To reserve a spot, visit fvacpp.org/nhddevents.
To learn more about SPES’ services, visit stpaulelders.org.