Over the past few years, United Way has participated in successful community conversations on mental health, food scarcity and childhood early learning. Successful community conversations are like a recipe. Any good recipe requires some key ingredients, a few spices, and a beautiful presentation. Finally, the meal always tastes best when enjoyed with family and friends. We are pleased to invite you, your family and friends to join us on Tuesday, April 19^th to learn about the importance of Advance Health Care Planning for all adults.  Honoring Your Wishes, A Community Conversation about Advance Care Planning, is being provided by Aurora Health Care, Sheboygan County Aging and Disability Resource Center, Sheboygan County Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health, Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice, Lakeshore Community Health Care, and United Way of Sheboygan County.

Over the years, we talk with our family members and friends about our jobs, our children, our health, our plans for the weekend, our plans for retirement and so much more.  Many of us have likely thought about or have drafted our wills and probably thought about our final wishes, but have we completed the process needed to ensure our health care wishes will be honored? Advance Care Planning is a process of communication between you, your loved ones and health care providers about your wishes.  An unexpected illness or injury can happen at any time. Any adult, 18 years and over, needs a written plan to ensure their health care wishes are honored.

Honoring Your Wishes, A Community Conversation, will start with a discussion led by a panel of local experts.  They will define Advance Health Care Planning and its’ importance for all adults, provide ideas on how to start the conversation and identify how to get help completing your advanced directive. The panel members are:  Dr. Vytas Kerpe, Sheboygan Internal Medicine Associates; Lee Mitchler, Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice;  Christine Freund, Aging and Disability Resource Center; Kathy Vater and Ryan Schmidt, ICU Nurses Aurora Health Care, and Rev. John Tinsley, Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church.  Resources about Advanced Health Care Planning will be available.

Please join us on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 from 6:30 – 8:00PM at the Bull at Pinehurst Farms Heritage House Event Center.  Registration for this free event is appreciated, but not required. Register on-line at www.aurorahealthcare.org/classes  or call Aurora Community Outreach 920-451-5513.