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Monthly Newsletter
January 2019
Our Impact: 2018
1,404+
Individuals
Educated
188
Conversations
Requested
123
Conversations Completed
Thanks to our partners around the state who register their patient and client Advance Directives to Great Lakes Health Connect, we now have over 47,000 documents available in the Community Health Record! Registering these documents makes them available (only as appropriate) to a state-wide network of hospitals, primary, specialty, and allied care organizations, ensuring that healthcare providers will have immediate access to their patient's wishes.
Click here to learn more about registering your patient and client documents or to schedule your ACP appointment today!
A Resolution for Peace of Mind

The new year abounds with resolutions and goals for healthier eating, more exercise, and enhanced well being. Many of us will take the plunge and finally move forward with tasks that we've been procrastinating about! One such task is having a conversation with your loved ones and completing your advance directive. If you've been putting this off then the new year is the perfect time to finally check that off your list!

First Steps Advance Care Planning
Facilitator Training
Wednesday, January 30, 2019 from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Harbor Hospice | Muskegon, MI
Being Mortal Discussion Group
Tuesday, January 22 from 12 PM to 1 PM
or Thursday, January 24 from 7 PM to 8 PM
Join Dave Kampfschulte and Dr. Carol Robinson for a free discussion group on January 22 or January 24 to discuss Being Mortal , ask questions, and learn how to share your wishes with others. One of the best gifts you can give your patient advocate(s) is for them to be very clear on your healthcare preferences, should they ever need to speak for you.

To register contact:
info@makingchoicesmichigan.org or (616) 421-4840
End of the Line Cafe: Talk Now While You Can
Monday, January 28 from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Comstock Park Library | 3943 West River Dr NE
Everything is “on the table” at this event, from emotional reactions to practical considerations. This session will be led by experienced facilitators who will help us explore our own relationship with mortality. Before the session closes we will address practical issues around end of life care, including how to document your wishes in an Advance Directive document. Come with questions and be willing to consider what you may want for yourself, how to assist others in receiving the care they prefer, and tools to get prepared.

To register contact:
info@makingchoicesmichigan.org or (616) 421-4840
ACP Conversation Clinic
February 6 or February 7, 2019 from 2 PM to 4 PM
Area Agency on Aging of W. Michigan | Grand Rapids, MI
Join Making Choices Michigan and Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan for our Advance Care Planning Conversation Clinic. This event will give individuals the opportunity to sign up for a facilitated conversation to discuss their values, beliefs and wishes regarding medical care should they no longer be able to speak for themselves in the case of an accident of illness. It is at this time that our facilitators will help individual’s start and/or complete their Advance Directive.

To register contact:
info@makingchoicesmichigan.org or (616) 421-4840
Interested in exploring how you can volunteer with MCM?

Thanks For Your Support
Thank you to everyone who supported our work by making a donation this holiday season!

As a non-profit community collaborative, we depend on volunteers and donors like you help us to educate and empower people to be proactive about planning for future healthcare. Thanks to our 30 partner organizations, we’ve educated over 5,000 individuals at our public presentations. We’ve also trained 1,300 healthcare professionals about having meaningful conversations with their patients so they can deliver truly patient centered care.

There's still time to support our work through a financial gift so that we can ensure that advance care planning education and conversations are free and accessible to everyone in our community.
 
Will you join us by making a gift today?

A gift of $100 provides an advance care planning conversation and document upload for one individual in our community

A gift of $250 provides a free public presentation about advance care planning at one of our community partner locations, such as Grand Rapids Housing Commission

A gift of $500 trains and mentors two volunteers to work in our community to guide individuals through the advance care planning process

A gift of any size is appreciated, and helps us empower individuals to advocate for their personal health! Thank you for supporting our work and our community!
Making Choices Michigan | Office: (616) 421-4840 | MakingChoicesMichigan.org