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New Data on Advance Care Planning During Pandemic Coincides with Preparations for Healthcare Decisions Day

April 7th, 2021

As the toll of COVID-19 continues to climb, newly released poll data suggest an opportunity to use the pandemic as a prompt for discussing and documenting older adults’ wishes for  care, in case of seriously illness or injury.

Overall, 59% of the 50- to 80-year-olds polled said they had had a conversation with loved ones about their preferences in case they became severely ill. That percentage was even higher — 70% — among those over age 65. Just 7% of all older adults polled said COVID-19 had motivated them to have such conversations. Continue reading →

COVID-19 Updates and Resources for the MHAC Network: 3/20-3/26

March 26th, 2020

MHAC is continuing to collect and share updates on COVID-19 from state government, federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control, and other key stakeholders.

These updates are to help and inform a wide range of individuals and partners, including communities working to become more age- and dementia friendly.

Please see the latest updates below: Continue reading →

‘Good Talk Toolkit’ Released to Aid Advanced Care Planning

November 24th, 2019

Based on public messaging research, the Massachusetts Coalition on Serious Illness Care developed the Good Talk Toolkit to be a resource that supplements your organization’s capacity to build awareness and understanding for advance care planning.

The messaging and campaign are intended to shift the frame of advance care planning away from “end of life” and “life-sustaining treatment choices” towards goals of care, quality of life and shared decision making thus also bringing it into closer alignment with palliative care principles. Continue reading →

The Conversation Project Toolkits Now Available in Chinese

October 25th, 2018

Talking with your loved ones openly and honestly, before a medical crisis happens, gives everyone a shared understanding about what matters most to you at the end of life. The Conversation Project has added kits translated to Chinese to help people have that talk with loved ones and doctors.

See all the helpful guides from the Conversation Project here.

The Conversation Project Releases ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ Video

November 8th, 2017

Discussing end-of-life care planning with loved ones is inherently difficult and not usually thought of as humorous, but the Conversation Project has released a video that finds the funny side of how people attempt to bring up the subject.

The video – called “Practice Makes Perfect” – features a handful of subjects speaking into the mirror to practice how they would start the conversation of end-of-life care with their family members. It starts out with some well-meaning, but awkward attempts to raise the issue. While it begins with humor, the video concludes with some of the “best practice” suggestions for more successful ways to broach the matter.

See the video below and visit the Conversation Project’s website for their helpful toolkits.

Guest Blog Post: Joining Forces for Health Care Decisions Month

April 4th, 2017

The following is a guest blog post from Ellen DiPaola, Esq., President and CEO of Honoring Choices Massachusetts.

This year, Honoring Choices Massachusetts is so pleased to join forces with The Conversation Project  and The Massachusetts Coalition for Serious Illness Care for one amazing collaborative initiative: Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of National Health Care Decisions Day.

Every competent adult, 18 and older, can download a free “Getting Started Tool Kit”  to make your own health care plan. The Honoring Choices Community Partners across the Commonwealth will be hosting activities and events all month to help consumers make a plan and get connected to person-centered care in their community. Continue reading →

Massachusetts Expert Panel on End of Life Care Report

March 30th, 2015

This report provides a brief snapshot of end of life care activity in Massachusetts since the 2010 report, identifies related themes and trends in MA health care institutions, and conveys current concerns and priorities for improving end of life care in the Commonwealth.