For Immediate Release

Area Faith Communities to Address Planning for Healthcare at End of Life

Two Appleton churches will be hosting eventsto highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).First United Methodist Church and First Congregational Church, both in Appleton, will be providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (including healthcare power of attorney) in accordance with Wisconsin state laws.

On Sundays, April 15 and 22, trained Advance Care Planning Facilitators will be available at First Congregational Church to meet with church members to provide information and answer questions. Ben Adams, elder law attorney with Adams & Woodrow in Neenah, will assist with this service and routinely provides this information and these resources to his clients and community members.

First United Methodist Church in Appleton will be hosting a 3-part series designed to help people learn about why advance care planning is important and will help complete the necessary, but often difficult, documentation. Presenters include Dr. Jack Swanson, Physician and Palliative Care Specialist from Fox Valley Hematology and Oncology and Ellen Koski, Director of the Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership.

  • Sunday, April 15 at 10:30 am – Screening of Consider the Conversation
  • Sunday, April 22 at 10:30 am – Unraveling the confusion around Advance Directives & Advance Care Planning
  • Sunday, April 29 at 10:30 am – Make it Legal! Complete your Documents

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day and the events on and around that day to draw attention, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Pastor Liz Whitford with First United Methodist Church. “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

For more information, media may contact:

  • Ellen Koski, Director, Fox Valley Advance Care Planning Partnership at r (920) 997-8412
  • Ben Adams, Attorney, Adams & Woodrow S.C., at
  • Pastor Liz Whitford, Pastor of Discipleship, First United Methodist Church, Appleton at or (920) 734-2677

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