11th Annual Health Care Decisions Spring Celebration
How are you celebrating?
Every year the Honoring Choices Partners & Friends celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16, with our statewide March - June Spring Celebration. Our collective goal is to ensure every adult has EQUAL ACCESS to health care planning tools to make a personal care plan for good care today and over your lifetime.
Help spread the word in your community or workplace. Everyone can use our free, multi-lingual documents and tool kits to host your own fun and informational event. We post your events on the 2024 Events Calendar below. Share in your newsletters.
To Partners & Friends: Everyone is welcome to use the free tools and event ideas and we'll post your event on the 2024 Events Calendar below. If you want co-host a consumer or staff webinar with Honoring Choices, please reserve your event date today. First come, first serve. Email Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
Everyone can join the Spring Celebration!
We provide free, downloadable planning tools and fun event ideas below. You can-
1). Make your own personal care plan;
2). Gather your community group to host or co-host an event with Honoring Choices;
3). For staff & colleagues, co-host a informational webinar OR attend April 24 Become a Health Care Ambassador training. Register here.
1. Make Your Own Plan
Starting at 18 years old, every adult can make choices about their care, and write down their choices in a personal care plan. It's easy to do- just start with a Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive, or the Getting Started Tool Kit. Share with family and friends!
TOOLS: You can download an single document or the Getting Started Tool Kit. View the video to do-it-yourself.
- MA Health Care Proxy, available in 15 languages
- New 6 Minute Video: How to Complete an Honoring Choices Health Care Proxy. Do-it-yourself!
- Getting Started Tool Kit : Includes free Health Care Proxy, Personal Directive(Living Will), and Wallet Card.
- MA Personal Directive (Living Will), available in 5 languages
- "I Have a Health Care Proxy" wallet card
- "5 Things to Talk About with Your Care Providers"- a handy conversation guide series
Everything you need is on the Resources webpage
2. Gather Your Group
Choose an event idea below, or design your own, to host an informational presentation for your community or work group. You gather your group: we'll supply the advertising flyer, slide deck and tools. Host your own event or co-host with us.
EVENT IDEAS & TOOLS. We have 5 fun event ideas ready to go. We provide a flyer, slide deck and tools! Choose a date!
- "Pizza & Proxy Party”; host provides pizza.
- "Pastries & Proxy Party"; host provides pastries.
- "Now's the Time. Make Your Own Plan"
- "Who’s Your Agent?: Complete Your Health Care Proxy"
- Who's Your Agent? flyer (English)
- ¿Quién es su Apoderado? (Spanish)
- Quem é o seu Agente? (Portuguese)
- New: "Health Care Planning Process- Made Simple!"
- Learn about important conversations from simple to serious illness, and accompanying planning tools to make a plan for good care today and over your lifetime.
We'll post your event in the 2024 Events Calendar below!
3. Support & Train Your Staff
Co-host a virtual webinar for your staff & colleagues to enhance their knowledge and skills to confidently engage adults in planning conversations from simple to serious illness. Attend a Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador training on April 24.
EVENT IDEAS & WEBINARS: Celebrate with your staff. Choose an activity or co-host a webinar in our training series.
- "Pastries & Proxy"- For your next staff meeting- you offer pastries; we'll send tool kits.
- Co-host an Informational webinar with us. Choose-
- Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador
- Confidently engage adults in simple conversations using the HCM Getting Started Tool Kit;
- Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness
- Build on conversations to live well with chronic or serous illness,; HCM Next Steps Tool Kit and Ariadne Lab's Serious Illness Conversation Guide.
- Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador
Contact Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
Working Together to Standardize Planning and Improve Timely, Equitable Care Across the Care Continuum
Now in our 11th year, the Honoring Choices structured approach to health care planning helps consumers & care providers, use the same tools across all health care and community settings, to improve access to person-centered care over a person's lifetime.
The Honoring Choices Partner Network is dismantling barriers and building new pathways to help ensure effective care transitions as adults move from primary and community care, to hospital care, to short term rehab and long term nursing facility care, to home care, to hospice care.
Here are just some of our Partner's innovative initiatives that help standardize early and on-going planning conversations to know and honor a person's care choices, and improve access to timely, equitable care across the care continuum. Want to share your initiative? Contact Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
Take A Simple Step: Protecting Your Care Choices
Health Care Planning Process - Made Simple!
Conversations & Tools
HCM Resources; A collaboration of Honoring Choice & Ariadne Labs Serious Illness Care Program
"Now's the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan!", taking the lead on consumer webinars!
MA Councils on Aging and 350 COAs support healthy aging, MA EOEA
Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Behavioral Health Care for Older Adults
"What does “dementia” mean to your cultural, race or disability community?"
Hospital to Home Program; Community-based Care & Services Network
Mass Home Care, 27 ASAPs/AAAs; MA EOEA
AHEC Scholars - 5 years training Health Care Planning Ambassadors!
Preparing Nurses & Care Managers to engage adults in simple to serious illness conversations
Advocating for the end of life caregiving community; Palliative Care and Hospice Care Directory.
Access mental health and substance use care that fits your needs. Available 24/7.
Behavioral Health Help Line 833-773-2445, masshelpline.com
Tell us about your work!
2024 MARCH-JUNE EVENTS CALENDAR
Plan an activity or event anytime from March through to June, and we will post it in the calendar. You can use an event idea below or create your own event. We can co-host virtual webinars to inform consumers and train staff. To reserve a date or post your event, contact Ellen at edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
Check back often as we post events daily.
MARCH Events
March - “Timing is Everything Cable Show- Celebrating National Healthcare Decision Day!”
Hosted by Care Dimensions, Danvers
We are delighted to again join Mary Crowe LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S., CDP, Director of Professional and Community Education, for a lively conversation on the importance of health care planning and sharing the Honoring Choices programs and tools with the North Shore community. Thanks to Danvers Community Access TV. Check local listings for air time. Learn more about Care Dimension at www.CareDimensions.org
March 8- "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Older Adult Behavioral Health Network
March 8, 2024, 9:30-10am
Virtual Meeting for Older Adult Behavioral health Network Members
Thanks to Cassie Cramer, LICSW, Project Director, for updating the Older Adult Behavioral Health Network (OABHN) members on "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!" We'll share the latest tools to help all adults have equal access to health care planning information to ensure every individual can make a care plan, and work in partnership with their care team honor their care goals and choices. We'll also invite OABHN members to co-host an event with Honoring Choices for adults and families in their community.
March - "Senior Student Nurses become Health Care Planning Ambassadors!
Hosted by Althea D. Michel, MSN, RN. Assitant Professor of Nursing
Feb-March Senior Student Nurses Continuing Curriculum
Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador training
For 50+ senior nursing students.
Althea D. Michel, MSN, RN, and Assistant Professor of Nursing, American International College, and an Honoring Choices Health Care Planning Ambassador, (pictured here) will offer the "Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador" training to 50 of her senior nursing students this semester. Now in it's 4th year, Professor Michel has made this course part of her regular curriculum to ensure senior nursing students are well prepared to engage patients in health care planning conversations, and use the 5 MA planning documents to help adults make a personal care plan over their lifetime. Thank you Professor Michel for our valued partnership!
March 13 - "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Dignity Alliance Massachusetts
March 13, 2024, 10am-11am
Zoom Webinar for Dignity Alliance MA Members
Thanks to Paul Lanzikos and our Partners at Dignity Alliance MA for co-hosting a study session for its members on "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!" We'll update members on our latest tools to help all adults have equal access to health care planning information to ensure every individual can exercise their right to make a care plan and work in partnership with their care team honor their care goals and choices, Dignity Alliance MA is dedicated to transformative change to ensure the dignity of older adults, people with disabilities, and their caregivers. They are committed to advancing new ways of providing long-term services, support, living options, and care, while respecting choice and self-determination. Learn more here.
March - "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"- A Conversation with LifeCare Advocates
Hosted by LifeCare Advocates
A conversation with LifeCare Advocates Care Managers and Staff
Thanks to Kate Granigan, LICSW, C-ASWCM, Chief Executive Officer, for inviting us to have our annual conversation and update the staff on Health Care Planning process- Made Simple. We'll share the latest tools to help all adults have equal access to health care planning information to ensure every individual can make a care plan, and work in partnership with their care team honor their care goals and choices. LifeCare Advocate, an11 year Honoring Choices Partner, shares important information to help us understand the state of care in the community, and together address the barriers and solutions for timely equitable care. You can learn more about Life Care Advocates here.
March 19- "Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador"
Hosted by Mass Home Care
March 19, 2024, 10am-11am
Zoom Webinar for Mass Home Care Staff
Betsy Crimmins, Executive Director, and Ellen Taintor, Assistant Director, are co-hosting our very popular Health Care Planning Ambassador Training for their staff, a network of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) and Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) across Massachusetts. Mass Home Care staff will enhance their knowledge and skills to confidently engage adults in simple planning conversations to complete a Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive( Living Will), using the Getting Started Tool Kit..
March 20 - "Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador"
Hosted by Honoring Choices Massachusetts
April 20, 2024, 12:15- 1pm.
For all Care Providers and Care Team Members
Virtual Event. No cost.
Participants receive a HCM Health Care Planning Ambassador Certificate. Ambassadors receive our monthly e-newsletter with updated tools and the latest information.
Registration Closed.
March 21- "Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness"
Hosted by LifePath, Greenfield
March 21, 2024, 10am-11am
Health Care Professional Webinar
March - MA Behavioral Health Help Line Virtual Presentation for Staff and Consumers
March and beyond- MA Behavioral Health Help Line available 24/7.
Learn More! Schedule a virtual presentation for your staff or consumer community today.
The Massachusetts' new Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) went live on January 3, 2023, offering direct connection to mental health and substance use care for anyone in the Commonwealth – no insurance needed. Available 24/7, in more than 200 languages, the BHHL is a phone, text, and online chat line whose clinically trained staffed will work with you to determine the care that best fits your needs and directly connect you to treatment, including outpatient, urgent care, and immediate crisis care. Click here to learn more about the Help Line, or email BHHLCommunityRelations@carelon.com for a virtual or in person presentation on the service for staff or consumer groups. Thanks to Becky Manseau Barnett, Community Relations Manager for her partnership and helping our Partners and Friends schedule presentations.
March 21- "Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness"
Hosted by AgeSpan, Danvers
March 21, 2024, 12Noon-1pm
Health Care Professional Webinar
Cheryl Krisko, MSN/MBA, RN, NCG, Chief Program Officer, AgeSpan is co-hosting Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness, a virtual webinar for staff to enhance their skills to start simple conversation using the Honoring Choices Who's Your Agent? Program, and Getting Started Tool Kit, and flow into a more complex conversations using next Steps Tool Kit and Ariadne Labs Serious Illness Conversation Guide.
March 22- "Now's the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan!"
Hosted by Ipswich Council on Aging
March 22, 2024, 11am-Noon
Consumer Webinar
APRIL Events
April 2 - "Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness"
Hosted by Point32 Health
April 2, 2024, 9am-10am
Health Care Professional Webinar
Sharon Soucy, RN, BSN, Senior Manager, ICM-Nursing and Fiona Cayer, RN, BSN, CCM, CMCN, Manager, Integrated Care Management are co-hosting the second webinar in the Honoring Choices staff training series, Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness. This webinar builds on the Health Care Planning Ambassador training to start simple conversations using the Getting Started Tool Kit, and enhances knowledge and skills to engage adults in conversations to manage chronic illness and live well with serious illness. Staff will explore Honoring Choices Next Steps Tool Kit and the Ariadne Labs Serious Illness Conversation Guide.
April - Host a "Pastries & Proxy" Staff Meetings
April Staff Meetings
For Care Providers and Professional Staff
Care teams, faith based and community groups all across the state are celebrating with some sweet pastries and beverages to ensure hard working staff have dedicated time to complete their planning documents. A free MA Health Care Proxy (15 languages) and other documents are available to fill out or take home.
Just pick a date and supply the refreshments; we'll send you the planning documents and wallet cards. Email Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
April - “Timing is Everything Cable Show- Celebrating National Healthcare Decision Day!”
Hosted by Care Dimensions, Danvers
In March, we were delighted to join Mary Crowe LICSW, ACHP-SW, C.D.S., CDP, Director of Professional and Community Education, for a lively conversation on the importance of health care planning and sharing the Honoring Choices programs and tools with the North Shore community. Thanks to Danvers Community Access TV.
Here's the link to the conversation. YouTube link: https://youtu.be/EvRMuwxW90g
Also Check local listings for multiple air time. Learn more about Care Dimension at www.CareDimensions.org
April 9 - "Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness"
Hosted by Mass Home Care
April 9, 2024, 10am-11am
Health Care Professional Webinar
Mass Home Care is co-hosting the second webinar in the Honoring Choices staff training series, Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness. This webinar builds on the Health Care Planning Ambassador training to start simple conversations using the Getting Started Tool Kit, and enhances knowledge and skills to engage adults in conversations to manage chronic illness and live well with serious illness. Staff will explore Honoring Choices Next Steps Tool Kit and the Ariadne Labs Serious Illness Conversation Guide.
April 10 - "Who’s Your Agent? ¿Quién es su Apoderado? Pizza & Proxy Party"
Hosted by Gwynne Guzzeau, Helping Our Women and Ann Maguire Women's Wellness Center
April 10, 2024, 4:30 - 6pm
In person Pizza and Proxy Party
B-lingual presentation; English and Spanish Health Care Proxy
Ann Maguire Women’s Wellness Center 3 Main Street, Eastham, MA
It’s National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 and we want to help adults get the documents and information you need for free and with pizza- what’s not to like!?! Join us for pizza and health care proxy workshop where you will leave with forms you need to be sure someone is going to act on your behalf. Bi-lingual presentation; English and Spanish Health Care Proxy available. Call Cathy to reserve your spot 508-487-4357.
Usted tiene el derecho de decir qué tipo de atención quiere.
Si usted se enfermara, una persona de su confianza, llamada Apoderado de
atención de salud (Apoderado), puede intervenir con el poder para hablar
con sus médicos y obtener la atención que usted desea.
April 11 - "Now's the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan"
Hosted by Bolton Council on Aging
April 11, 2024 , 11am- Noon
Zoom Webinar for Consumers
Heather Goodsell is co-hosting this consumer webinar to help adults make their own personal care plan, using the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit and our structured approach to care planning. Contact Heather for more information, hgoodsell@townofbolton.com
April- Tap Dance Your Way to Planning with the "Five Easy Steps" Video
Hosted by Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard
Fun Health Care Decisions Month Public Service Announcement
For Consumers and Care Providers
Created by Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard.
Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard (HAMV) believes in the importance of advance care planning, for all adult residents of Martha's Vineyard, and especially for our older adult population. They share a creative and fun public service announcement to celebrate Healthcare Decisions Day called "5 Easy Steps." It highlights making your plan starting with MA Healthy Care Proxy. See the video here.
HAMV is celebrating all Spring on the Vineyard. Read more here.
April 17 - Enhancing Resident Care and Reducing Unnecessary Resident Hospitalizations in Nursing Facilities
Hosted by Mass Senior Care and Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA
April 17 to September 12
For Administrators, DONs, Unit Managers/Supervisors, Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Volunteers, Bereavement Counselors, and hospice team members who visit skilled nursing facilities
Enhancing Resident Care and Reducing Unnecessary Resident Hospitalizations in Nursing Facilities:
A 5-Part Virtual Interdisciplinary Hospice Education Series Jointly Sponsored by Mass Senior Care Association and the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts
Enhancing resident care and reducing unnecessary resident hospitalizations at the end of life should be a top priority for nursing facilities. Research shows that hospice care in nursing facilities is an underutilized service which can provide skills and services that may not otherwise be available in nursing facilities. Hospice provides an interdisciplinary team with enhanced expertise in pain and symptom management, advance care planning, and spiritual and emotional support at end of life. The hospice team joins with the nursing facility staff to share the responsibility of ensuring residents receive the best quality of life possible to live their final days with dignity and comfort and decreases the burden of already overstretched nursing facility staff having to do it all. This 5-part virtual series will focus on incorporating hospice services into nursing facilities to enhance resident care and reduce unnecessary resident hospitalizations at the end of life.
- Session 1: Goals of Care and End-of-life Planning – APRIL 17 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 2: Value of providing hospice care in the nursing home – MAY 23 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 3: Collaboration is Key – JUNE 7 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 4: Inpatient hospice care for nursing facility residents – SEPTEMBER 12 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 5: Navigating the hospice and nursing facility regulations to avoid deficiencies and provide the best care for the resident. – OCTOBER 16 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
April 18 - "Now's the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan"
Hosted by RiverMills Center, Chicopee
April 18th, 2024, 10am -11am
Zoom Webinar for Consumers
Casey Conroy is co-hosting this webinar to help adults start to make their own health care plan using the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit. We will review the easy 3-step process to complete a MA Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive (Living Will), and talk with your care providers to put you plan into action. Participants receive a free tools kit. For more information, contact Casey cconroy@chicopeema.gov
April 18 - Make Your Own Care Plan Lunch and Learn
Hosted by Merrimac Council of Aging & Senior Center
April 18th, 2024, 12Noon-1pm
Zoom Webinar for Consumers
Bridget Batcheller, is co-hosting this webinar to help adults start to make their own health care plan using the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit. We will review the easy 3-step process to complete a MA Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive (Living Will), and talk with your care providers to put you plan into action. Participants receive a free tools kit. For more information, contact Bridget, Bbatcheller@townofmerrimac.com
April 23 - "Priorities, Planning, and Your Health Care Providers"
Hosted by Generations Law Group, Sudbury
April 23th, 11am-12 Noon
Zoom Webinar for Generations Law Group Members
Carol Anderson will co-host an informative webinar with Honoring Choices to support their members in exploring their health care priorities now that they have created an estate plan. We will review up to date information, planning documents such as MOLST, and conversations guides from simple to serious illness to help manage your health care plan as you age to ensure your current care aligns with your health care choices.
April 23- "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Good Shepherd Community Care
Tuesday, April 23
Virtual Meeting for the North Shore Interdisciplinary Care Team, Good Shepherd Community Care
Thanks to Kate Bancroft, Communications and Project Management Specialist, Good Shepherd Community Care, for inviting us to April's “First 15” Staff Meeting Series. We will provide an update on our new Health Care Planning Process and share new planning tools, conversations guides and videos. We attend several meeting to help ensure we can provide information to all Hospice staff, and have an opportunity to hear their valuable feedback for working together.
April 24 - "Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness"
Hosted by HESSCO
April 24, 2024, 9:30am- 10:30 am
Health Care Professional Webinar for HESSCO Staff
Chelsea Lanson, Director of Planning and Community Development, is co-hosting the Engage Adults in Seamless Conversations from Simple to Serious Illness webinar for HESSCO staff. We will review the Health Care Planning Ambassador training to start simple conversations using the Getting Started Tool Kit, and enhance knowledge and skills to engage adults in conversations to manage chronic illness and live well with serious illness. Staff will explore Honoring Choices Next Steps Tool Kit and be introduced to the Ariadne Labs Serious Illness Conversation Guide to have seamless and effective care planning conversations.
April 24 - "Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador"
Hosted by Honoring Choices Massachusetts
April 24, 2024, 12:15- 1pm.
For all Care Providers and Care Team Members
Virtual Event. No cost.
Participants receive a HCM Health Care Planning Ambassador Certificate. Ambassadors receive our monthly e-newsletter with updated tools and the latest information.
April 24- "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Good Shepherd Community Care
Wednesday, April 24
Virtual Meeting for Multicultural Interdisciplinary Care Team, Good Shepherd Community Care
Thanks to Kate Bancroft, Communications and Project Management Specialist, Good Shepherd Community Care, for inviting us to April's “First 15” Staff Meeting Series. We will provide an update on our new Health Care Planning Process and share new planning tools, conversations guides and videos. We attend several meeting to help ensure we can provide information to all Hospice staff, and have an opportunity to hear their valuable feedback for working together.
April 24- Honoring Choices National Network
Hosted by Heather Heather C. Thonvold, Executive Director, Honoring Choices National Network
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
12-1pm Central Mountain Time (1-2pm EST) for all Honoring Choices National Partners and their members
Virtual Panel Discussion
Thanks to Heather C. Thonvold, BCC, Executive Director, National Honoring Choices Network, for convening a panel discussion in honor of National Health Care Decisions day/month. The panel will discuss some of the exciting programs three of the National Honoring Choices Members are spearheading in their home states. The panel speakers include Heather Thonvold, Honoring Choices Minnesota, who will address LGBTQ Concerns and Empowerment in Care Planning; Eleanor Jones, Honoring Choices Virginia, who will address Mental Health and Care Planning; and Ellen DiPaola, Honoring Choices Massachusetts, who will address a new Health Care Planning Process everyone can use for early and on-going care planning conversations.
April 25- "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Good Shepherd Community Care
Thursday, April 25
Virtual Meeting for South Shore interdisciplinary Care Team, Good Shepherd Community Care
Thanks to Kate Bancroft, Communications and Project Management Specialist, Good Shepherd Community Care, for inviting us to April's “First 15” Staff Meeting Series. We will provide an update on our new Health Care Planning Process and share new planning tools, conversations guides and videos. We attend several meeting to help ensure we can provide information to all Hospice staff, and have an opportunity to hear their valuable feedback for working together.
April 25- "Health Care Planning- Made Simple!"
Hosted by Good Shepherd Community Care
Thursday, April 25
Virtual Meeting for Boston Interdisciplinary Care Team, Good Shepherd Community Care
Thanks to Kate Bancroft, Communications and Project Management Specialist, Good Shepherd Community Care, for inviting us to April's “First 15” Staff Meeting Series. We will provide an update on our new Health Care Planning Process and share new planning tools, conversations guides and videos. We attend several meeting to help ensure we can provide information to all Hospice staff, and have an opportunity to hear their valuable feedback for working together.
April 26- "Health Care Choices: Planning for Your Care Now and in the Future"
Hosted by MA Alzheimer's Research and Education Center
April 26, 12Noon -1pm
Consumer Virtual Webinar
REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/DecisionsHealth
Thanks to Ana Paola Garza, MA Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, for hosting an informational webinar for the adults, families and caregivers. Presenters Carine Davila, MD, MPH, Palliative Care, Mass General Hospital (pictured here), and Ellen DiPaola, JD, President, Honoring Choices MA, will offer a robust discussion for consumers to-
- Learn about types of care available for everyone to access on their health care journey, including palliative and hospice care;
- Discuss the importance of making your own plan, especially when managing chronic and serious illness;
- Learn about the Honoring Choices structured approach to planning to make and share your plan with those closest to you and your medical team.
Participants receive a link to free downloadable Getting Started Tool kit and multi-lingual planning tools to make their personal plan.
To register to attend this virtual event, visit: bit.ly/DecisionsHealth
April 29- Health Care Planning Process- Made Simple!
Hosted by Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
April 29, 1pm- 2pm
Virtual Meeting for Age Friendly Pioneer Valley Members, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Thanks to Becky Basch, Senior Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, Springfield, for co-hosting the Age Friendly Pioneer Valley members to learn about the new Honoring Choices Health Care Planning Process. We'll review the Who's your Agent? Program, our structured approach to health care planning, to empower every adult to make your own health care plan. We’ll review the new planning process and free tool kits to make your own plan, and offer to co-host individual consumer webinars to help community groups make a plan, and staff training webinars to enhance knowledge and skills to confidently engage all adults in planning discussions.
April - Pointing Patients & Providers to Choices: Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association
March- June Patie
ntCareLink (PCL) is a go-to online platform for Massachusetts patients, families, and healthcare providers to access important information about healthcare safety, quality, and care choices. The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) celebrates by providing great tools and resources such as:
MHA has developed an “After the Hospital” guide for patients and healthcare providers to understand their options when transitioning out of acute settings. We know this transition can be challenging and confusing, and our hope is that this guide makes the options involved more transparent and easy to understand.
PatientCareLink is a joint venture of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association, Organization of Nurse Leaders of MA, RI, NH, CT, VT, and Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts.
April - Help Family & Friends through the Honoring Choices National Network!
Meet the Honoring Choices National Network
We are all celebrating National Healthcare Decisions Day!
If friends and family live in the following states, they can easily access state specific care planning information and tools and participate in local events. Although we share the same mission as a national network, each state has personalized it's objectives to best serve the populations and needs within their state. Read more by clicking on the individual states below:
- Honoring Choices® Florida
- Honoring Choices® Idaho
- Honoring Choices® Indiana
- Honoring Choices® Indiana North Central
- Honoring Choices® Minnesota
- Honoring Choices® Napa Valley
- Honoring Choices® North Dakota
- Honoring Choices® Tennessee
- Honoring Choices® Virginia
- Honoring Choices® Massachusetts
April - "Cake & Planning"- Make a plan and upload to the cloud!
Honoring Choices-Cake portal lets you create, share, update and store planning documents online
Cake is an easy way to discover, store and share your health care planning documents and end of life care choices & preferences. Cake, an Honoring Choices Alliance Partner Cake, created an Honoring Choices-CAKE Joint Portal for easy access to the Honoring Choices Health Care Proxy and the Honoring Choices Personal Directive on the Cake website. You can fill out the documents on-line and share, update and securely store your documents in the cloud. Cake has helped thousands of individuals and organizations make planning progress not just the health care category, but also in legacy, legal/financial, and funeral considerations.
Here's how it works:
- Go to the Honoring Choices-Cake portal
- Create your own free personal account
- View and download the Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive and complete online, OR
- Upload your completed documents to your personal account
- Access the Cake cards to create your own profile of end of life choices and preferences to store and share
- If you have questions you can contact: support@joincake.com
MAY Events
May 2- "Donuts and Decisions"
Hosted by Truro Council on Aging
May 2, 2024, 1:15-2:30pm
Virtual Consumer Webinar
Thank you to Michelle Peterson, Deputy Director Truro Council on Aging, for co-hosting a fun and uniquely titled "Donuts & Decisions'" event to empower adults to make their own personal health care plan. As participants enjoy a donut, we'll offer a Now’s the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan virtual presentation and review the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit to complete a Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive (Living Will). Please contact Michelle to register for this event, Mpeterson@truro-ma.gov 508-413-9513.
May - "Pastries & Proxy"
April Staff Meetings
For Care Providers and Professional Staff
Care teams, faith based and community groups all across the state are celebrating with some sweet pastries and beverages to ensure hard working staff have dedicated time to complete their planning documents. A free MA Health Care Proxy (15 languages) and other documents are available to fill out or take home.
Just pick a date and supply the refreshments; we'll send you the planning documents and wallet cards. Email Ellen, edipaola@honoringchoicesmass.com
May 6- "Now’s the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan"
Hosted by Watertown Council on Aging
May 6, 2024, 3:30-4:30pm
Virtual Consumer Webinar
Thanks to Marina Kirsanova, Program Coordinator, Watertown Department of Senior Services for co-hosting a fun and informative Now’s the Time. Make Your Own Care Plan virtual presentation. Consumers will review the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit to complete a Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive (Living Will). Please contact Marina to register for this event at 617-972-6490
May 7- "Aging in Place: Legal and Healthcare Planning"
Hosted by LifePath and Greenfield Community College; Community Engagement Workshops
May 7, 2024 3- 4:45 Aging in Place: Legal and Health Care Planning
Virtual Webinar: Greenfield Community College; Community Engagement Workshops
No cost.
Thanks to Judy Raper, Associate Dean for Community Engagement, Greenfield Community College, for hosting a special “Now’s the Time. Make your Own Plan” workshop with Ellen DiPaola, President, Honoring Choices MA and Attorney Thomas Hulley. Participants will learn how to make their own heath care plan with the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit. Attorney Hulley will review the benefits and potential drawbacks of a Durable Power of Attorney (DPOA), and some of the key considerations when deciding if a DPOA makes sense for you.
May 7- Become a Health Care Planning Ambassador
Hosted by Community Rehab Care
May 7, 2024 9am-10:15
Virtual Webinar for Health Care Professionals
We are delighted to welcome new Honoring Choices Community Partner Janet McBride-Roy, CTRS, CCM, CBIS, Director of Case Management, Community Rehab Care, Waltham. Janet is co-hosting a Become an Health Care Planning Ambassador virtual webinar for her staff, to confidently engage adults in health care planning conversations to make a personal plan. you can learn more about Community Rehab Care's mission to provide individualized, and community-based outpatient rehabilitative and support services to people with neurologic, musculoskeletal, or orthopedic injuries and illnesses on their website.
May 8- Championing Care Choices: Finding Your Health Care Voice
Hosted by Northeast Region, MA Dept. of Developmental Services
May 8, 2024 10:30-11:30am
Championing Care Choices: Finding your Health Care Voice
Virtual Webinar for staff and colleagues of the Northeast Region, MA Dept. of Developmental Services.
Thanks to Kelly Lawless, Northeast Regional Director, Ashley Boyd Fermin, LICSW, Director of Clinical Services, and Rebecca Hogan and team members for co-hosting a first of its kind virtual webinar to support and enhance the knowledge of interested staff and colleagues. Honoring Choices will provide an informative webinar where participants will learn-
- How to confidently start simple planning conversations
- Introduce the new Adult & Supportive Person Tool Kit to understand and document care preferences;
- Ways to advocate for adults with other colleagues and at medical appointments.
This is Part 1 of a two part series. We'll invite participants to try out the tool kit and report their experience in a June webinar, and offer additional conversation guides and tools.
May 8- "Leading Change: Making a Difference at the Intersection of Practice, Policy and Lived Experience"
Hosted by Older Adult Behavioral Health Network
May 8, 2024 Conference
Leading Change: Making a Difference at the Intersection of Practice, Policy and Lived Experience
Hosted by the Older Adult Behavioral Health Network
For health care and community professionals and older adults.
In-Person. Holy Cross Campus, Worcester,
Leading Change: Making a Difference at the Intersection of Practice, Policy and Lived Experience, is an all day conference for care professionals helping older adults on their health care journey. The conference is sponsored by the Older Adults Behavioral Health Network DEI Committee, of which Honoring Choices is a member. The focus is cultivating leadership among attendees and encouraging those with firsthand experience to use their voice for positive change. The program will feature leaders in the fields of aging policy and practice including MA Senate President Karen E. Spilka, and offer many workshops. More information to come. Learn more about OABHN here.
May 14- Simple Step Campaign: Designating a Health Care Agent and Completing a Health Care Proxy
Hosted by Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association
May 14, 2024 12Noon
Simple Step Campaign: Designating a Health Care Agent and Completing a Health Care Proxy
Virtual Webinar for Health Care and Community Professionals
Thanks to Adam Delmolino, Senior Director, Virtual Care & Clinical Affairs and Pat Noga, Vice President, Clinical Affairs MA Health and Hospital Association, and key cross-care continuum collaborators, for spearheading a statewide Simple Step Campaign, now in its second year. Adam Delmolino, MHA and Ellen DiPaola, Honoring Choices MA will outline the Simple Step campaign which seeks to encourage adults to take the first important step to designate a Health Care Agent and complete a Health Care Proxy. Learn about the NEW Honoring Choices Health Care Planning Process and share the short video with colleges and consumers. The Simple Step campaign aligns with the Health Care Planning Process Planning Process to help adults take the first important step to complete a Health Care proxy and when ready, how to take the next steps to engage adults in simple to serious illness conversations with accompanying planning tools and conversations guides.
May 16- Pizza & Proxy Party!
Hosted by Rowley COA and Rowley Public Library
May 16, 11am-Noon
Consumer Virtual Webinar
Location: Rowley Public Library. 141 Main St, Rowley, MA 01969
Marty Blanchard, Rowley Council on Aging and Rowley Public Library., are hosting a Pizza & Proxy Event!. Seniors will enjoy pizza as the learn how to make their own personal health care plan. Honoring Choices is co-hosting the virtual webinar and reviewing the step by step Getting Started Tool Kit so everyone can start to make a plan. Contact Marty to register by calling the Rowley COA at 978-948-7637 or at marty.blanchard@townofrowley.org
April- September - Enhancing Resident Care and Reducing Unnecessary Resident Hospitalizations in Nursing Facilities
Hosted by Mass Senior Care and Hospice and Palliative Care Federation of MA
April 17 to September 12
For Administrators, DONs, Unit Managers/Supervisors, Nurses, Social Workers, Chaplains, Volunteers, Bereavement Counselors, and hospice team members who visit skilled nursing facilities
Enhancing Resident Care and Reducing Unnecessary Resident Hospitalizations in Nursing Facilities:
A 5-Part Virtual Interdisciplinary Hospice Education Series Jointly Sponsored by Mass Senior Care Association and the Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts
Enhancing resident care and reducing unnecessary resident hospitalizations at the end of life should be a top priority for nursing facilities. Research shows that hospice care in nursing facilities is an underutilized service which can provide skills and services that may not otherwise be available in nursing facilities. Hospice provides an interdisciplinary team with enhanced expertise in pain and symptom management, advance care planning, and spiritual and emotional support at end of life. The hospice team joins with the nursing facility staff to share the responsibility of ensuring residents receive the best quality of life possible to live their final days with dignity and comfort and decreases the burden of already overstretched nursing facility staff having to do it all. This 5-part virtual series will focus on incorporating hospice services into nursing facilities to enhance resident care and reduce unnecessary resident hospitalizations at the end of life.
- Session 1: Goals of Care and End-of-life Planning – APRIL 17 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 2: Value of providing hospice care in the nursing home – MAY 23 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 3: Collaboration is Key – JUNE 7 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 4: Inpatient hospice care for nursing facility residents – SEPTEMBER 12 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
- Session 5: Navigating the hospice and nursing facility regulations to avoid deficiencies and provide the best care for the resident. – OCTOBER 16 (12:00 pm – 1:15 pm)
June Events
June 17- "Now’s The Time. Make Your Own Care Plan!"
Hosted by Pleasant View Senior Center. East Longmeadow COA
June 17, 11am-Noon
Consumer Virtual Webinar
Alicia Smith, Program & Volunteer Coordinator is co-hosting this webinar to help adults start to make their own health care plan using the Honoring Choices Getting Started Tool Kit. We will review the easy 3-step process to complete a MA Health Care Proxy and Personal Directive (Living Will), and talk with your care providers to put you plan into action. Participants receive a free tools kit. For more information, contact Alicia at alicia.smith@eastlongmeadowma.gov