Tidewell Hospice family of companies, Tidewell Foundation Offer Free Virtual Discussion on Advance Healthcare Planning

The panel discussion highlights the importance of thinking ahead on National Healthcare Decisions Day.

The Tidewell Hospice family of companies is partnering with the Tidewell Foundation, Inc. to present “Your Decisions Matter,” a free virtual panel discussion from 10-11:30 a.m Friday, April 16 on National Healthcare Decisions Day. This online event will educate people on the importance of planning ahead for their healthcare decisions by discussing advance directives, financial planning, estate planning, charitable and planned giving, and more. 

The virtual seminar will feature three experts in the area of advance care planning. Each panelist will individually speak and also participate in a question-and-answer segment with guests at the end of the event: 

• Nafi Cunningham is the director of My Life, My Choice at Stratum Health System, a free year-round advance care planning program for adults.  
• Jill McCrory is a transactional tax attorney at McCrory Law firm and focuses on asset transfers in the context of wills, trusts, estates, probate, asset preservation, business succession and real estate.  
• Steven Krause, senior vice president and trust advisor at Northern Trust, has more than 40 years of wealth management experience and focuses on developing and administering customized financial planning and wealth transfer strategies.  

“People are often so busy in their daily lives that they don’t tend to think about healthcare decisions that their family members may have to make years down the road,” said Tidewell Foundation President Debbie Mason. “We are fortunate to have Nafi, Jill and Steven joining us to impart their wealth of experience and speak about the importance of advance care planning for individuals and their families.” 

My Life, My Choice is an advance care planning program offered by Stratum Health System, the parent company for the Tidewell family of companies, for adults who are interested in putting their affairs in order but aren’t sure how to do so. Through this free program, Stratum’s certified facilitators provide advance care planning presentations at places of business, congregations, neighborhood meetings and other convenient settings to help guide individuals in how to make important legal decisions for the future. 

National Healthcare Decisions Day is designed to raise awareness and empower the public and healthcare providers to take part in important advance care planning. According to a 2018 national survey by The Conversation Project, 92 percent of Americans believe it’s important to discuss their wishes for end-of-life care, but only 32 percent have done so. Without an advanced directive, medical personnel rely on family members, who often struggle to determine what a patient’s wishes might be. 

Registration for the webinar is still open here. 

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About Tidewell Hospice 

Tidewell Hospice is an independent, not-for-profit health provider offering a home-centered, comprehensive system of end of life and palliative care for people living with advanced illness and their families. Annually, Tidewell provides care for nearly 10,000 patients throughout its four-county service area of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. Hospice houses and offices are located in Arcadia, Bradenton, Englewood, Lakewood Ranch, Palmetto, Port Charlotte, Sarasota and Venice. As the region’s only not-for-profit hospice, Tidewell relies on donor contributions to provide a number of its acclaimed patient and community services. Tidewell is accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Partner (CHAP) with deemed status, signifying excellent care and meeting Medicare’s conditions of participation. 

About Tidewell Foundation, Inc.  

The Tidewell Foundation, Inc. is an independent 501 (c) (3) charitable foundation established to ensure perpetual philanthropic support to Tidewell Hospice and the healthcare companies within the Stratum Health System family. Charitable contributions to the Tidewell Foundation sustain and grow the critically important programs and services provided through the not-for-profit mission of Tidewell Hospice and its affiliates. Donor-funded programs offer compassion and comfort to those who need it most in our community by caring for all, regardless of their ability to pay. It starts with generosity and is paid forward with every patient connection, family served and life changed. Discover how each donation strengthens our community; learn more by visiting www.tidewellfoundation.org. 

Nafi Cunningham 

Jill McCrory 

Photo Credit: Stratum Health System 

Steven Krause 

Photo Credit: Stratum Health System