National Healthcare Decisions Day Workshop Set for April 16 at United Church Ludlow

The United Church of Ludlow along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). As a participating organization, the United Church is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family and friends, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Vermont state laws.

Specifically, on Tuesday, April 16, at 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM, the United Church is welcoming the public at the corner of Elm and Pleasant Streets in Ludlow with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms. The workshops feature video case studies that spark discussion of the reasons for and means of preparing and filing healthcare advance directives specifically in Vermont. There will be opportunity to complete directives at the workshop. 

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Bob Kottkamp, President of the United Church  “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.” 

For more information about National Healthcare Decision Day and the Ludlow workshop, please visit www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org or contact Bob Kottkamp at [email protected] or 802-228-6282.