This November Trellis Supportive Care, in recognition of National Hospice & Palliative Care Month, is joining hospice organizations throughout the country to heighten awareness of this year’s theme, Courageous Conversations. “We embrace this theme wholeheartedly. We understand that conversations about end of life can be challenging, but they can mean the difference between having your wishes for care honored in a way that you set forth, verses losing your voice at a time when having influence really matters,” shared Ann Gauthreaux, Senior Director of Public Relations.
Trellis has been facilitating these conversations for decades. In formal terms, this is a process known as Advance Care Planning. However, it can be best to think of the process as simply having open and honest conversations with loved ones, and your doctor, about the care you want in the event of a sudden illness or at end of life. Not only does it pave the way for your wishes to be honored, but it also takes some of the strain and anxiety off those who may someday become your caregiver.
The greatest benefit of Advance Care Planning is the peace of mind individuals and their loved ones gain. Additionally, it is noteworthy that individuals who have expressed and documented their wishes are less likely to die in an ICU, less likely to be on a feeding tube or a respirator in the last year of life, and finally, they are more likely to receive hospice care.
As a gift to the community, Trellis provides Advance Care Planning workshops, free of charge to all participants. During the workshops, information and tools are shared and each participant can complete their written Advance Directives (a Health Care Power of Attorney and Living Will) in accordance with North Carolina state laws. Workshops, also known as ‘Got Plans?’ workshops are offered throughout the Piedmont Triad area on a regular basis. More information can be found at GotPlans123.org