MEDICAL CARE
Hospice Austin will be on hand to discuss medicalcare planning during a workshop at the Taylor Public Library.
The free session, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, is open to those 18 years and older.
The library is at 801 Vance St.
A common misconception that officials with Hospice Austin said they want to dispel is that medical care planning is just for the elderly.
“Anyone over the age of 18 needs advance-care planning,” said Shirley Price, advance care planning director for Hospice Austin.
She encourages all adult family members to attend.
“We’re coming at this from a medical perspective. We’re not doing anything with wills, assets or trusts,” Price said. “This workshop focuses on what you would want if you couldn’t be your own health care advocate, who is a good medical power of attorney for you and what are good lifesustaining treatments.” Registered nurse Ginny Erboe from The GIFT Project, or Giving Instructions for Tomorrow, will be available to answer clinical questions, including: What is a feeding tube? What’s dialysis for? What’s the difference between palliative and hospice care?
Hospice Austin will hand out informational packets and assist participants in filling out Texas advanced directive forms.
“That’s medical power of attorney, a living will and an out-ofhospital- do-not-resuscitate order,” Price said.
She believes the medical power of attorney is the most important form because “that designates who’s going to speak on your behalf if you’re unable to do so.”
The packet also includes a conversation starter guide.
“One of the goals of this program,” Price said, “is learning to express your wishes to all of the key people in your life, especially before an illness or a diagnosis happens.”
Lunch is provided with registration.
To register, a sign-up sheet is available at the front entrance of the library or email Gina Paja, the library’s mental health peer support specialist, at libraries4health@ [email protected].
