Most people know it’s a good idea to plan ahead for emergencies.

However, it is often difficult to find the time or know where to start. When it comes to future healthcare decisions, planning ahead becomes even more important. We have all heard stories of families unable to care for loved ones as they wished because their future wishes were not defined in advance.

This is why it is important to complete your advance care planning before there is a crisis. Advance care planning means making important decisions about the medical care you want to receive if you are unable to speak for yourself. This includes thinking about your choices, writing them down in a directive, and talking with loved ones about your end-of-life wishes.

Studies show that advance care planning:

• Reduces aggressive treatments and hospitalizations,
• Increases the likelihood that you will receive end-of-life care in accordance with your wishes,
• Reduces anxiety and stress for family members and loved ones,
• Improves access to palliative and palliative care services.

Advance care planning shouldn’t wait until you’re old or have a health crisis. Indeed, anyone over the age of 18 should have plans in place.
Need a little advice to take the first steps? Join us in Nisswa on April 22! Crow Wing Energized, a community-based health and wellness movement organizes Got Plans? A seminar on advance care planning.

The keynote speaker is Dr. Kelly Goeb, family medicine specialist and medical director of St. Croix Hospice in northern Minnesota. Goeb graduated with honors from the University of Minnesota Medical School.

An advance care directive is an important document that should be reviewed and updated as necessary at these stages:

• Decade — Review your documents when you begin a new decade of your life,
• The death — Review your wishes each time you experience the death of a loved one,
• Divorce — Take a look at what your plan says when you are going through a divorce or other major family change,
• Diagnostic — Consider how your wishes might change if you are diagnosed with a serious medical condition,
• Decline — Make sure your plan continues to reflect your current situation if you notice a significant decline or deterioration in an existing health condition, especially when it diminishes your ability to live independently.

Karla Krueger, Supervising Attorney at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, will also present information about guardianship, including when you need to hire an attorney for your advanced care planning. Karla will share information about a power of attorney in relation to a health care agent.

Join us to learn more about advance care planning. We’ll take a step-by-step guide to completing an Advance Care Directive. You will also have the opportunity to meet with an Advance Care Planning Facilitator, who can explain the guideline to you. Continuing education units are available for social workers attending this event.

The event is free and includes a free lunch. For more information or to register, go to:

Do you have plans ? 5th Annual Conference – Energized Crow Wing

Previous Crow Wing County Community Health Surveys found that only 25% of adults in Crow Wing County have an advanced care directive. Of these, only 60% of the plans were delivered to the health care provider. Treat yourself to peace of mind and join us for a fun and informative day!

Crow Wing Energized is a community-based health and wellness movement led and funded by Crow Wing County, Essentia Health, and SHIP, the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership of Minnesota.