Advance care planning addresses the health care you would want to receive in a medical crisis — based on your values, preferences, and conversations with your loved ones.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made this issue more pressing for many Coloradans. While there’s much we can’t control, we can make informed decisions to give the people closest to us the power to confidently make health care decisions for us in the event that becomes necessary.

All adults should make time for these conversations, but they’re especially important for those who are over 60 years old and are living with chronic health conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease or cancer.

Along with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Center for Improving Value in Health Care, we will host a free 30-minute webinar on advance care planning Wednesday, April 22 at 10 a.m. We will outline free resources to help you or a loved one explore the topic in an informed way.

The webinar will feature a presentation by Melissa Davis, a licensed clinical social worker with The Denver Hospice and Optio Palliative Care.

Melissa focuses on working with people with chronic and terminal illnesses and is highly experienced in helping clients and their loved ones negotiate difficult transitions and losses. Melissa is deeply passionate about biomedical ethics and advance directives.

While there’s no cost for the webinar, registration is required and space is limited. Please visit this page to sign up.

For more information about the webinar or for assistance signing up and participating online, please contact Kari Degerness of the Center for Improving Value in Health Care at 720-484-4112 or KDegerness@civhc.org.