By Julia Nordling

On Saturday April 16, Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville was the host site for an informative panel discussion and workshop on the timely topic of “Make Your Choices Known—It’s Time to Talk Advanced Care Planning.” Members of the community were invited.

 Advance care planning (ACP) is a process that helps you consider and record your choices for future health care decisions. Fifty-seven community members listened to a panel of experts (a physician, firefighter, and a lawyer) speak about the importance of having a health care directive (HCD).

Following the panel, time was set aside for participants to ask questions and learn more in small groups with experienced Honoring Choices-MN facilitators, as well as gather information and forms at resource tables.

Preparations for this event began approximately six months ago when representatives of various health care agencies, senior living facilities, health care providers, and city volunteers came together to discuss the best way to encourage people to learn about and complete a health care directive. The April 16 date was chosen because it is National Healthcare Decisions Day.

Volunteers were responsible for publicity, locating the appropriate speakers, finding a host site, and requesting low-cost or free baked goods from local businesses. One volunteer applied for and received Action Dollars from Thrivent Financial to help defray the cost of folders, paper products, and baked goods. The local Roseville cable TV station filmed the entire panel discussion for broadcasting at a later time.

The collaboration of the City of Roseville, Honoring Choices-MN, the Roseville Community Health Awareness Team (CHAT), and Centennial United Methodist Church all contributed to the success of this community event.

This is a great, low-cost, high benefit example of how a congregation can reach out to the community via its health care ministry.

To watch the event online, click here.

To purchase a DVD copy of the event, click here.