Essentia Health Offers Free Virtual Advance Care Planning Classes This Spring

Essentia Health is offering three free virtual advance care planning classes this spring, with the first session arriving in just days: noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, followed by sessions on Thursday, April 16 and Tuesday, May 12.

Advance care planning is a process that helps people think and talk about their choices for health care in the future, and Essentia Health emphasizes that it is important for every adult to have an advance directive, also known as a living will or health care directive. The classes are open to everyone and will cover vocabulary commonly used in medical settings, treatment goals, how to include personal values and spiritual beliefs in a care plan, how to choose a healthcare agent and how to complete a health care directive.

The urgency behind that last point is straightforward: a sudden illness or injury can leave a person unable to speak for themselves, and without clear documentation, families are often left to make difficult decisions during times of crisis. Completing a health care directive helps ensure a person's values and preferences guide their care if they are ever unable to speak for themselves.

The April 16 class carries added significance. That date marks National Healthcare Decisions Day, a nationwide initiative dedicated to inspiring, educating and empowering adults to think about and document their future health care wishes. The day encourages individuals to decide, discuss and document their preferences by completing a health care directive and having conversations with the people who matter most and their health care providers. As Essentia Health notes, National Healthcare Decisions Day serves as an important reminder that advance care planning is not just for those who are elderly or seriously ill — it is important for every adult.

All three sessions run noon to 1 p.m. and are free of charge. To register, visit essentiahealth.org, click "Find a Service," select "Advance Care Planning," then click "View classes" under Classes and Events. Those who cannot attend a live session can access a pre-recorded webinar titled "It's about the conversation" through the same page on Essentia's website.

For more information, contact Wanda Paulsen, BA, RN, at 218-786-1310.