Get Around TRUIT Advance Care Planning Program

Get Around TRUIT is an online self-study program offers advance care planning (ACP) education in three steps, each filled with information and activities to help you start your personal planning journey.  We want to help you Think, Reflect, Understand, Implement, and Tell others about your healthcare wishes and values. Please use the materials at your own pace.  In total, the education will take approximately 3-5 hours to complete.  It is structured in weekly sections, but feel free to proceed in whatever way fits your schedule.

ACP is a task that falls to the bottom of every list. People think the process if for older people or those with serious illness—anyone but us.  92% of adults say it is important to talk about their healthcare and end-of-life wishes, but only 30% have done so.

As professionals who work with older adults, it is likely that you have been exposed to ACP. You may even encourage people to participate in the process.  It is important that we have engaged in ACP in our own lives.  Building confidence in the process allows our wishes to be heard and respected and helps us to better encourage others to engage in ACP. 

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. 

The Conversation Project in Boulder County invites you to THINK and REFLECT.  If a serious injury or illness occurred, who would speak for you?  How would that person be prepared to make the right decisions for you?

In Colorado, if you do not appoint a person to speak for and you become incapacitated, loved ones do not automatically have the authority to make medical decisions. Life is full of unexpected events.  We cannot control when accidents, illness and hospitalizations occur. We can ensure sure our values around medical treatment and end-of- life care are documented and communicated with those that matter most.  This process is called advance care planning and it starts with personal reflection on what matters to you.

  1. What is advance care planning?
    1. Watch an intro to ACP and The Conversation (18:32)
    2. NHPCO video (3:40)
    3. Be Open, Be Ready, Be Heard video (1:55)
    4. What advance care planning is right for me? (flowchart)
    5. Dispel common ACP myths (article)

  2. What is an advance directive?
    1. Watch an introduction to Advance Directives (21:55)
    2. Keep this ACP glossary of terms handy during your learning process
    3. Seuss Does Advance Directives Video (5:27)
    4. Advance directive comparison table

  3. Why is ACP important for me?
    1. I’m Young and Healthy: Why do I Need an Advance Health Care Directive? (article)
    2. ACP is not just for old sick people. Read this compelling story of sudden accident and temporary incapacitation (article).

  4. What matters most to you?
    1. Play the Go Wish card game online
    2. Complete a personal reflection with these guided questions
    3. Miss Norma’s story video (2:21)
    4. Prepare for step 2 by working through The Conversation Starter Guide. You will use this as a guide in future conversations.

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 download tools to help get started.

  1. How can I prepare my loved ones–learn about “the conversation”
    1. IHI video (1:44)
    2. The Conversation on ABC World News(4:37)
    3. Talking to My Community video (3:10)
    4. Have the Conversation video (9:40)
    5. If you haven’t already, fill out The Conversation Starter Guide

  2. Who will speak for you—choosing a healthcare agent.
    1. Why You Need a Healthcare Agent (article)
    2. Who Will Speak for You video (2:02)
    3. Health care agent comparison tool

  3. Start the conversation
    1. Practice Makes Perfect video (1:18)
    2. Make a commitment! Decide with whom, when, and where to have the conversation
    3. Use your completed Starter Guide and everything you have learned to guide your conversation.
  • Implement: take action and complete your Medical Durable Power of Attorney and whatever other advance directives make sense for you. Then, distribute copies to you healthcare agent, other important family and friends, your primary care physician, medical specialists, and hospital system. Completing and sharing your documents are important steps in implementing your plan.
  • Tell: Advance Directives are for all adults. We encourage you to spread the word and tell 2-3 people how important it is to begin the advance care planning journey.
  1. Complete a Colorado Medical Durable Power of Attorney
  2. Share your completed MDPOA with your health care agent, close friends and family, as well as your medical providers
  3. Share the advance care planning love by telling others how important it is to start the process.
  4. Remember that this is a process with no clear ending. When you should review your advance care planning and advance directives
    1. Having the conversation once is not enough blog
    2. Review this guide to determine when to revisit your ACP