(FOND DU LAC) Families across the Fond du Lac area are being urged to have a conversation many people put off — what kind of care they want if they can’t speak for themselves.
SSM Health is marking National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16 by offering free resources and in-person events to help people plan ahead and put their wishes in writing.
The annual effort, supported by organizations nationwide, focuses on advance care planning — including documents like a health care power of attorney and living will. The goal is simple: make sure families and doctors know what someone wants before a medical crisis happens.
SSM Health leaders say those conversations can make a difficult moment easier for everyone involved.
“When people take the time to talk through their wishes and complete advance directives, it removes a lot of uncertainty,” said Deb Toth, an advance care planning specialist with SSM Health in Fond du Lac. “It helps families avoid making painful decisions without guidance and allows care teams to honor what the patient wants.”
On April 16, SSM Health staff will be at several locations across the area with free information and forms. Events include morning outreach at the Fond du Lac Family YMCA, a lunch-and-learn at the Ripon Senior Center, and information tables at clinic locations in Fond du Lac and Waupun.
Some events include added support, like a free lunch in Ripon with registration, and partnerships with groups focused on organ and tissue donation.
SSM Health is also offering information online and by phone for those who can’t attend in person.
