Kreamer & Lum to host 'And After I am Gone' advance care planning event

Too often, loved ones or the important people in our lives are burdened with difficult and conflicting decisions if we have not reviewed and discussed our decisions about legal, financial, spiritual, or burial issues for when we are dying.

During this session, learn how to prepare in advance to relieve this burden. Engaging in this process puts you in control of how your life is celebrated, and how your wishes and values are honored after you are gone. Valuable planning resources will be shared with the participants.

A unique educational opportunity to help people plan for the care they desire as they approach the end of their life, as well as any memorialization that they wish to have following their death, is happening on Monday, November 11th from 6 – 8 p.m. at the
Kreamer and Lum Funeral Home and Crematory at 5 Campmeeting Road in Jonestown.

“And After I am Gone???” is the program being presented that evening. This program will help people look ahead and assist in the planning process for their care at the end of their life. As a result, their loved ones will not be burdened by decisions that are extremely diﬃcult at a time of emotional crisis.

Co-sponsored by the Kreamer and Lum Funeral Home and Crematory and the Advance Care Planning (ACP) Coalition of the Aging Inspired Initiative, a project of the Community Health Council of Lebanon County, the program will feature advance care planning principles, spiritual and religious planning decisions to be considered, and information on how to ensure that one’s funeral/burial planning is in place. This is a program similar to the highly regarded one held at the Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory in Annville in April.

For the last six years, the ACP Coalition, has oﬀered programming to any community organization, church, group or individual about determining, documenting and sharing one’s wishes for their care at the end of their life. The Coalition oﬀers a variety of programs on how sharing one’s values and wishes can be a stress-reducing experience. It can actually enable individuals to concentrate on living their life to the fullest, and not be anxious or worried about how it will end. Topics on which the Coalition provides programs include (but are not limited to)… 1. the elements of advance care planning, 2. how palliative and hospice care can support one’s health care journey with serious illness, 3. the importance of planning prior to any dementia diagnosis and the impact of not having advance directives completed before the loss of capacity, 4. caregiving for those terminally ill, and 5. the role of a Death Doula in end-of-life care. Members of the Coalition are also certified to provide opportunities for groups to play the HELLO Game® or participate in a Death Cafe®.

As a result of programs conducted by the ACP Coalition, hundreds of Lebanon County residents have taken action to ensure that they have had critical conversations about their goals and values for end-of-life care. This has also led to the completion of Living Will and Power of Attorney for Healthcare documents (advance directives), at no cost to these individuals.

Members of the Coalition strongly advise… “Don’t be scared, squeamish, confused or in denial. Come learn how to start the conversation, and how to put your plans in place for the future. Even if you cannot imagine what your death may be like or when it will happen, you can share what is most important to you and what gives your life meaning with those in your life who should know this information long before you come to the end of your life.”

Speakers for the evening will be Roberta Geidner, a Respecting Choices Certified Facilitator and Instructor in advance care planning conversations, a Five Wishes Certified Facilitator and presenter, a Common Practice Certified Host for the HELLO game and Co-coordinator of the Advance Care Planning Coalition; Rev. Deanna Geiter, minister of the Cornwall United Methodist Church and former pastor of the Lickdale UMC; Kathleen Hetrick, Co-coordinator of the ACP Coalition and Christian Kreamer, Supervisor of the Kreamer and Lum Funeral Home and Crematory, the site of the event.

Join this panel of experts at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, November 11th, in Jonestown, to participate in this engaging and enlightening discussion. Light refreshments and free materials will be provided, so registration is recommended. Register by calling Christian Kreamer at 717-867-4811 or emailing him at christian@kreamerfuneralhome.org.

Do not let your death be even more heartbreaking and diﬃcult because you failed to have “the conversation” and plan ahead.

PROGRAM: AND AFTER I AM GONE???

WHEN:	November 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
WHERE:	Kreamer and Lum Funeral Home and Crematory, 5 Campmeeting Road, Jonestown, PA
WHO SHOULD COME:	Since we all will die someday, everyone should come to listen, learn and be prepared to help your loved ones or the important people in your life know your wishes.

To register contact Christian Kreamer at Kreamer Funeral Home and Crematory, by email at christian@kreamerfuneralhome.com or by phone at 717-867-4811.

Light refreshments will be served. For more information or if you have questions, call Christian Kreamer, Supervisor or Roberta Geidner, Advance Care Planning Presenter with Aging Inspired ACP Coalition, at 410-207-8829.