Get Around TRUIT Advance Care Planning Program

“It’s always too soon [to start the conversation] until it’s too late.” – Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and founder of The Conversation Project

The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) became a program of TRU Community Care in 2019. While much of what we do is community-facing—offering educational presentations and free coaching related to advance care planning—we want to emphasize that these same tools and resources are also available to TRU employees and volunteers. We encourage all staff and volunteers to take the time to reflect on their healthcare values and wishes and engage in advance care planning (ACP). As representatives of an organization dedicated to “affirming life at every step of your journey with illness and loss,” it is particularly important for us to consider our own healthcare values and wishes.

Advance care planning isn’t just for older adults or those with a terminal condition—it’s something everyone 18 and older should consider. ACP is not a one-time task, but an ongoing process that evolves with our age, life stage, and personal circumstances. While completing forms is part of the process, ACP is, most importantly, an ongoing conversation.

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) on April 16th highlights the importance of making healthcare decisions. It provides a dedicated opportunity for individuals to reflect on and discuss their healthcare preferences.

In honor of NHDD, TRU Community Care is launching “Get Around TRU It” (GATI). GATI is a month-long program designed to encourage TRU employees and volunteers to engage in advance care planning, with incentives for participation. The initiative will officially kick off on April 1st and conclude on May 1st.

You can participate in GATI at your own pace, with specific actions leading to entries into a drawing for a chance to win a $25, $50, $75, or $100 Visa gift card. Winners will be notified the week of May 5th.

While GATI is a month-long initiative, the resources and support from the Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) are always available to TRU staff, volunteers, those we serve, and our broader community.

 

Opportunities to Receive Prize Entries (see ACTION ALERTS)

  1. Register to Participate
  2. Request a coaching session
  3. Tell us What Matters Most
  4. Email a Photo of your completed MDPOA
  5. Complete a presentation interest form
  6. Fill out post-survey

Who would speak for you if you could not speak for yourself?

Advance Care Planning helps us give us control in unpredictable circumstances and provides those that matter most to us confidence and comfort. It is truly a gift.

ACTION ALERT #1: Register to Participate
ACTION ALERT #2: Request a Coaching Session

If you have questions or need support at any point in this process, do not hesitate to request a free session with a trained TCPBC advance care planning coach. This gets you an additional prize drawing entry!

The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) invites you to THINK and REFLECT. If a serious injury or illness were to occur, who would speak on your behalf? How would that person be prepared to make the right decisions for you?

In Colorado, if you don’t appoint someone to make decisions for you and you become incapacitated, your loved ones do not automatically have the legal authority to make medical choices on your behalf. Life is unpredictable, and accidents, illnesses, or hospitalizations can happen at any time. While we can’t control when these events occur, we can ensure that our values around medical treatment and end-of-life care are clearly documented and communicated to those who matter most.

This process is known as advance care planning, and it begins with personal reflection on what truly matters to you.

 

What is advance care planning?

1.1 What is Advance Care Planning: Watch this video (3:40) to learn more.

1.2 Glossary of ACP Terms: Familiarize yourself with key ACP terms by reviewing this Glossary of Terms related to Advance Directives and End of Life.

1.3 Compare and Contrast ACP Tools: Review our Advance Care Planning Directives and Tools Comparison Chart.

 

What are end of life wishes? What might I consider? What matters most to me?

1.4 Play the Go Wish Game Take 5-10 minutes to play the Go Wish game online for free. The object of the game is to consider the importance of various choices and to help you voice those choices now.

1.5 Personal Reflection: What Matters to Me? Take a half hour with a cup of tea to think about your values, beliefs, and understandings about your healthcare. Use this resource as a guide.

1.6 Work through the Conversation Starter Guide (condensed): Work your way through the Conversation Starter Guide (condensed) which you will use as a guide in future conversations. Hard copies can be found at the TRU Louisville and Trailridge offices or reach out to beckiparr@trucare.org and she will get you one. If you have additional time, you might consider using the full version of the Conversation Starter Guide.

 

ACTION ALERT #3: What matters most to me through the end of life is…
  • Over 50% of adults will not be decisional and require someone else to make a medical choice for them at some point in their life. 

Conversations about healthcare values and end-of-life wishes are gifts you give to those that matter to you as well as your future self.  Learn more about “the conversation” and advance care planning tools.

 Advance Care Planning includes forms—but most importantly it is an on-going conversation about healthcare values and end-of-life wishes.

 

2.1 Advance Directives and End-of-Life Care Planning: Watch this short video about advance directives and end of life care planning (1:44)

2.2 Learn How to Start the Conversation: Watch this video about talking to your community (3:10)

Who will speak for me? How do I choose a health care agent? *

* In Colorado, a health care agent is the person you name on the Medical Power of Attorney (MDPOA) form. In other states this is called the health care proxy, a term more commonly used.

 

Health Care Agents Should Be:

  • Willing to serve in this role and speak on your behalf.
  • Able to act on YOUR wishes and separate their feelings from yours.
  • Understand what is important to you.
  • Able to talk with you now about sensitive issues and be willing to revisit conversations regularly.
  • Available and accessible.
  • Able to handle conflicting opinions between family and friends.
  • An advocate in the face of an unresponsive doctor or institution.

2.3 Who will speak for you? Watch this video about one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make (2:02)

2.4 Review the How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy Tool: The American Bar Association publishes this helpful tool for you to use when selecting a health care agent.

2.5 Note the following about Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPOA):

  • You do NOT need witnesses or a notary for the MDPOA form to be legal.

  • It is best practice to choose one primary healthcare decision maker and then 1-2 alternates. It is legal but not advisable to put two people as the primary healthcare decision maker. 

  • Pocket MDPOA cards are available at TRU Louisville and Trailridge offices or reach out to beckiparr@trucare.org and she will get you one.

  • There is not just one legal MDPOA form in Colorado.  The linked MDPOA is one of many MDPOA forms available you could use. 

2.6 Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney: Complete a Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney form.

ACTION ALERT #4: Submit a picture with your completed MDPOA form
Communicate Your Health Care Values and Listen to the Values of Others. Discuss your health care preferences with your health care agent and others invested in your care.

3.1 Distribute Your Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPOA). Provide a copy of your completed MDPOA (see step 2.6) to your health care agent, close friends and family, and your medical providers.

3.2 What Might the Conversation Look Like?  Watch this video which provides some real-life examples of loved ones having important conversations about their health care end-of-life wishes. (4:48)

3.3 Use the Conversation Starter Guide to help clearly communicate your wishes. You started working through either the condensed version of the Conversation Starter Guide or the full version of the Conversation Starter Guide in Step 1.6. Don’t hesitate to reference your guide when having these important conversations!


How to be a Health Care Agent for Someone Else. Do People in your life have you as their health care agent? Do you feel equipped to speak for them? 

3.4 Pass it on to others. Ask 2-3 important people in your life to complete the Conversation Starter Guide and make plans to talk with them about their health care values. Be intentional. Invite them to coffee or to go on a walk or to join you on a virtual meeting. Let them know that what they want is important to you. Watch this brief video for ideas on how to start the conversation. (1:18)

3.5 Prepare yourself to be a health care proxy for a loved one. Someone in your life may ask you to be their health care agent (or proxy). What should you consider?  What questions should you ask? Review this tool to prepare yourself: Your Guide to Being a Health Care Proxy.


ACTION ALERT #5: Submit a presentation interest form.
Encourage others to participate in advance care planning by inviting The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) to provide a presentation for people in your circles of influence. Schedule a presentation or discussion for a group, such as a book club, rotary organization, faith community, or neighborhood gathering. Presentations can be virtual or in-person.

  1. Advance Directives for All Adults. Anyone over 18 should complete a Medical Durable Power of Attorney (step 2.6). Be compassionately bold and ask the adults in your life if they have chosen a healthcare decision maker. 

  2. Coaching is a Free Service. The Conversation Project in Boulder County coaching is available in person or virtually at no cost. Share this resource with your loved ones as they consider their advance care plans.

  3. Keep the Conversation Ongoing. Your values and healthcare wishes may change over time, so continue to have conversations about your care. Review your advance care planning annually when you are healthy. Review your plan when circumstances change, such as a new diagnosis, a divorce, or a change in your health care agent’s health.

 
 

The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) invites you to THINK and REFLECT. If a serious injury or illness were to occur, who would speak on your behalf? How would that person be prepared to make the right decisions for you?

In Colorado, if you don’t appoint someone to make decisions for you and you become incapacitated, your loved ones do not automatically have the legal authority to make medical choices on your behalf. Life is unpredictable, and accidents, illnesses, or hospitalizations can happen at any time. While we can’t control when these events occur, we can ensure that our values around medical treatment and end-of-life care are clearly documented and communicated to those who matter most.

This process is known as advance care planning, and it begins with personal reflection on what truly matters to you.

 

What is advance care planning?

1.1 What is Advance Care Planning: Watch this video (3:40) to learn more.

1.2 Glossary of ACP Terms: Familiarize yourself with key ACP terms by reviewing this Glossary of Terms related to Advance Directives and End of Life.

1.3 Compare and Contrast ACP Tools: Review our Advance Care Planning Directives and Tools Comparison Chart.

 

What are end of life wishes? What might I consider? What matters most to me?

1.4 Play the Go Wish Game Take 5-10 minutes to play the Go Wish game online for free. The object of the game is to consider the importance of various choices and to help you voice those choices now.

1.5 Personal Reflection: What Matters to Me? Take a half hour with a cup of tea to think about your values, beliefs, and understandings about your healthcare. Use this resource as a guide.

1.6 Work through the Conversation Starter Guide (condensed): Work your way through the Conversation Starter Guide (condensed) which you will use as a guide in future conversations. Hard copies can be found at the TRU Louisville and Trailridge offices or reach out to beckiparr@trucare.org and she will get you one. If you have additional time, you might consider using the full version of the Conversation Starter Guide.

 

ACTION ALERT #3: What matters most to me through the end of life is…
  • Over 50% of adults will not be decisional and require someone else to make a medical choice for them at some point in their life. 

Conversations about healthcare values and end-of-life wishes are gifts you give to those that matter to you as well as your future self.  Learn more about “the conversation” and advance care planning tools.

 Advance Care Planning includes forms—but most importantly it is an on-going conversation about healthcare values and end-of-life wishes.

 

2.1 Advance Directives and End-of-Life Care Planning: Watch this short video about advance directives and end of life care planning (1:44)

2.2 Learn How to Start the Conversation: Watch this video about talking to your community (3:10)

Who will speak for me? How do I choose a health care agent? *

* In Colorado, a health care agent is the person you name on the Medical Power of Attorney (MDPOA) form. In other states this is called the health care proxy, a term more commonly used.

 

Health Care Agents Should Be:

  • Willing to serve in this role and speak on your behalf.
  • Able to act on YOUR wishes and separate their feelings from yours.
  • Understand what is important to you.
  • Able to talk with you now about sensitive issues and be willing to revisit conversations regularly.
  • Available and accessible.
  • Able to handle conflicting opinions between family and friends.
  • An advocate in the face of an unresponsive doctor or institution.

2.3 Who will speak for you? Watch this video about one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make (2:02)

2.4 Review the How to Select Your Health Care Agent or Proxy Tool: The American Bar Association publishes this helpful tool for you to use when selecting a health care agent.

2.5 Note the following about Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPOA):

  • You do NOT need witnesses or a notary for the MDPOA form to be legal.

  • It is best practice to choose one primary healthcare decision maker and then 1-2 alternates. It is legal but not advisable to put two people as the primary healthcare decision maker. 

  • Pocket MDPOA cards are available at TRU Louisville and Trailridge offices or reach out to beckiparr@trucare.org and she will get you one.

  • There is not just one legal MDPOA form in Colorado.  The linked MDPOA is one of many MDPOA forms available you could use. 

2.6 Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney: Complete a Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney form.

ACTION ALERT #4: Submit a picture with your completed MDPOA form
Communicate Your Health Care Values and Listen to the Values of Others. Discuss your health care preferences with your health care agent and others invested in your care.

3.1 Distribute Your Medical Durable Power of Attorney (MDPOA). Provide a copy of your completed MDPOA (see step 2.6) to your health care agent, close friends and family, and your medical providers.

3.2 What Might the Conversation Look Like?  Watch this video which provides some real-life examples of loved ones having important conversations about their health care end-of-life wishes. (4:48)

3.3 Use the Conversation Starter Guide to help clearly communicate your wishes. You started working through either the condensed version of the Conversation Starter Guide or the full version of the Conversation Starter Guide in Step 1.6. Don’t hesitate to reference your guide when having these important conversations!


How to be a Health Care Agent for Someone Else. Do People in your life have you as their health care agent? Do you feel equipped to speak for them? 

3.4 Pass it on to others. Ask 2-3 important people in your life to complete the Conversation Starter Guide and make plans to talk with them about their health care values. Be intentional. Invite them to coffee or to go on a walk or to join you on a virtual meeting. Let them know that what they want is important to you. Watch this brief video for ideas on how to start the conversation. (1:18)

3.5 Prepare yourself to be a health care proxy for a loved one. Someone in your life may ask you to be their health care agent (or proxy). What should you consider?  What questions should you ask? Review this tool to prepare yourself: Your Guide to Being a Health Care Proxy.


ACTION ALERT #5: Submit a presentation interest form.
Encourage others to participate in advance care planning by inviting The Conversation Project in Boulder County (TCPBC) to provide a presentation for people in your circles of influence. Schedule a presentation or discussion for a group, such as a book club, rotary organization, faith community, or neighborhood gathering. Presentations can be virtual or in-person.

  1. Advance Directives for All Adults. Anyone over 18 should complete a Medical Durable Power of Attorney (step 2.6). Be compassionately bold and ask the adults in your life if they have chosen a healthcare decision maker. 

  2. Coaching is a Free Service. The Conversation Project in Boulder County coaching is available in person or virtually at no cost. Share this resource with your loved ones as they consider their advance care plans.

  3. Keep the Conversation Ongoing. Your values and healthcare wishes may change over time, so continue to have conversations about your care. Review your advance care planning annually when you are healthy. Review your plan when circumstances change, such as a new diagnosis, a divorce, or a change in your health care agent’s health.

 
ACTION ALERT #6: Take Our Post Survey