Join Us during National Health Care Decisions Week

Taking Steps Brattleboro brings community together to highlight the vital importance of Advance Care Planning April 16-27, 2018

Two weeks of events and activities connecting Windham County with National Health Care Decisions Week.

We have a dynamic line up of activities and events that will highlight the national campaign with local events, the play VESTA, community Q&A, daily brown bag lunch conversations, and will include a banner over Main Street which reads: Advance Care Planning: A Gift to Those Who Love You, Taking Steps Brattleboro.

“We are thrilled to have a bonanza of Community Members and Organizations joining us this year to bring their own urgency, understanding, and support to this often neglected action.” Joanna Rueter, MSW, Advance Care Planning Coordinator

April 16-20 Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Richards Building Lobby. Daily Informational table with Taking Steps Brattleboro volunteers.

Monday, April 16, 7- 9 pm Brattleboro Museum & Art Center Film Screening of “Being Mortal” the popular Frontline Documentary with author Atul Gawande, MD, followed by discussion and light refreshments. Trained volunteers on hand for one on one questions about Advance Directives.

Wednesday, April 18, 7 – 8:30 pm “ Where Why When How What? Ask anything you want –this is your chance!” Brooks Memorial Library, Main Floor After a brief discussion by a panel which includes Attorney Ed Burke, Dr. Bob Tortolani, Cindy Jerome, Holton Home &Bradley House and ER Nurse Shabir Kamal, about the benefits of Advance Directives, the floor will be open for questions. Moderated. Q & A

April 23 – 27 12 noon – 1 pm daily, A Week of Brown Bag Lunch Conversations at the River Garden, Main Street.

Monday, April 23, 12 noon – 1 pm Green Burial and Other Choices: Grief is hard enough without also having to make major decisions about things that were never discussed. One of the decisions is what sort of burial to have. For those who like to look ahead and explore options, this brown bag conversation is a good way to begin. Studying green burial and home funerals as ways of “caring for one’s own” for her own family, Penfield Chester, Taking Steps volunteer, will facilitate a discussion and offer some basic information.

Tuesday, April 24, 12 noon – 1 pm Getting Clear about Rescue: DO YOU KNOW? When to call Rescue, what exactly to expect when the EMT arrives. What they are legally obligated to do and not do? What happens in the ambulance and when you get to the hospital? We often assume we know, but do we really? Come hear Assistant Chief Kyle Lapointe from our own Rescue Inc. provide vital information and answer your questions.

Wednesday, April 25, 12 noon – 1 pm The REAL SCOOP about our 3 Local Hospices: People often say they wish they had used hospice services much earlier. Also, there’s some confusion about the 3 hospices in our area. VNH (with Megan Hawthorne,) and Bayada (with Emma Gardner) are medical hospices. Brattleboro Area Hospice (with Ryan Murphy) is an all-volunteer, non-medical hospice. These three panelists will present their services and how can they work together for you and your loved ones. Bring your questions and concerns! Get a complimentary mini-scoop of real ice cream or sorbet when you arrive at noon and stay until at least 12:45.

Thursday, April 26, 12 noon – 1 pm Advance Care Planning, Grief, and Your Own Experience: Everyone’s grief is unique. Some of us have experienced family situations where no one knew what was wanted at the end. This certainly affects how grieving goes for us. Come and talk about your experience and concerns. How can this piece be made a bit easier? Discussion facilitated by Connie Baxter, Brattleboro Area Hospice Bereavement Program Coordinator.

Friday, April 27, 12 noon – 1 pm Write Your Own Obituary: Deborah Lee Luskin, Author & Educator, will present a workshop on writing an obituary for yourself or for someone you love. Participants will examine the parts of a conventional obit and then learn how to personalize them so that readers gain a sense of the purpose and personality of the person who has passed. You’ve been asking for this – here it is.

Friday April 27, 7pm Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center “VESTA,” the play explores the emotions and decisions a family must face through the end of a grandmother’s life. Vesta often evokes a strong emotional response from audiences, yet deals with the issues of aging and dying in a thoughtful, sometimes humorous manner. Following the play, the audience and actors will participate in a facilitated discussion. Light refreshments served. Raved about last time it was here in 2014; VESTA returns with Producer Burt Tepfer plus many of the same actors for another season.

Sunday, April 29, 3 pm at the River Garden “WHAT DO I Believe?” A panel from diverse traditions will speak briefly about the beliefs and practices that guide them regarding the end of life. A lively Q& A to follow. We ask people when working with them on directives to think about and ask their faith leaders about their traditions.. This last event of the Advance Care Planning “bonanza” allows you to ask questions and further explore your own thoughts.

Taking Steps Brattleboro began in the Fall of 2015 as a grant project with the goal of increasing community awareness and use of Advance Care Planning. Now an integral part of the free services offered by Brattleboro Area Hospice, Taking Steps has worked with more than 500 individuals in the community to help them get their Advance Directive process complete. For more information call 257-0775 or visit www.brattleborohospice.org