MHA event addresses end of life wishes

The end of life. It's a topic many people like to avoid but one we all have to face.

A person's final medical wishes can be an uncomfortable discussion to have, but a Wednesday, April 16 program presented by Mental Health America Putnam County is designed to help.

The program "Making Wishes Come True" is designed to help caregivers know and honor patient preferences for end-of-life medical care.

It is also planned to coincide with National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day devoted to helping people ensure that their preferences for medical care are expressed and carried out.

Local attorney Michael Goss, one of the co-sponsors of the event, said the topic will be about final wishes -- the kind of treatment patients do and don't want in serious illnesses as well as the amount they want to know about their illnesses.

The program will be presented by healthcare educators Deb Litzelman, Wilma Griffin and Ann Cottingham of the Walther Foundation.

"They will encourage participants to think about these issues themselves," Goss said.

The hope is that this thinking will lead to discussions in which people make their wishes known to caregivers.

"We also hope that caregivers will attend -- both family and professional," Goss said.

For the caregivers, the insight gained at the event could lead to conversation starters.

The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at Lifebuilder Community Church's Community Life Center, formerly Hopkins-Rector Funeral Home in Greencastle.

The morning will feature presentations by Litzelman, Griffin and Cottingham, all licensed healthcare professionals. Following an 11:30 a.m. lunch, the afternoon will include "Go Wish" cards and discussion, along with group sessions with local professionals from legal, financial and spiritual backgrounds.

The event will wrap up around 2:30 p.m.

Even those who aren't able to spare the entire day are encouraged to attend up through lunch.

"We encourage as may people to come who can," MHAPC Director Eileen Johnson said. "There's a wealth of information and these presentations are outstanding."

Goss added that although the subject is a serious one, the presentations by the Walther representatives are engaging and relatively light-hearted.

Beside's Goss's practice, other co-sponsors include Autumn Glen, Caregivers Informational Resource Center, Hickory Creek at Sunset, Lifebuilder Community Chruch, Mill Pond Health Campus and The Waters of Greencastle.

Anyone interested in attending may contact MHAPC at 653-3310 or Goss at 301-4494.