LincolnHealth will be hosting a series of workshops to assist individuals capture and document their health care wishes in the event they are unable to communicate them. 

The next three Advance Care Planning workshops are scheduled for Monday, April 29 from 9 a.m. to noon; Tuesday, May 28 from 1:30 to 4 p.m.; and Monday, June 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. All sessions are at the Watson Community Center on the Miles Campus, and there is no need to register.

“There is a misunderstanding that having an advance care plan, also known as a living will or an advanced healthcare directive, is only important for people who are chronically ill or old,” said Lori Ann, nurse practitioner at LincolnHealth. “The reality is that everyone should have an advance care plan to protect their health care wishes in the event of a health emergency. 

“For example, if a 30-year-old person is in a car accident and is unable to communicate, an advance care plan will ensure their wishes will be met. The document is notarized and answers key questions on how your care will be delivered. It also relieves the stress of family members and loved ones during a very emotional time,” she said.

Staff will be on hand to assist you in filling out an advance care plan and to answer questions. If you are not able to make these sessions, additional workshops are planned throughout the year.

If you would like to begin your advance care plan, go to www.mainehealth.org and type “advance directives” into the search. You’ll receive a link to a fillable form which you can save to your computer.