Having the “Conversation”
The Conversation Project
The Conversation Project® is a public engagement initiative of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Our goal is both simple and transformative: to help everyone talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected.
It’s time to share the way we want to live through the end of our lives. And it’s time to communicate about the kind of care we want and don’t want for ourselves.
We believe that the place for this to begin is at the kitchen table—not in the intensive care unit—with the people who matter most to us, before it’s too late.
Together we can make these difficult conversations easier. We can make sure that our own wishes, and those of the people who matter most to us (our loved ones, friends, chosen family), are both understood and respected. The Conversation Project offers free tools, guidance, and resources to begin talking with those who matter most about your and their wishes.
Advance Care Planning: A Conversation Guide
Learn about advance care planning and how to establish your advance directives. This guide provides worksheets, conversation guides, and other tools to help you prepare and plan.
General Advanced Planning Information
Planning Ahead for Your Future – Minnesota Board on Aging
Planning ahead is about your future—for the expected (death someday)
and the unexpected (not being able to care for yourself). Having a plan in
place means you get to choose – where and how you live and who will take
care of you. And knowing what you want will give your family peace of
mind, make caring for you easier and save money.
National Institute on Aging – Getting Your Affairs in Order Checklist
No one ever plans to be sick or disabled. Yet, planning for the future can make all the difference in an emergency and at the end-of-life. Being prepared and having important documents in a single place can give you peace of mind, help ensure your wishes are honored, and ease the burden on your loved ones.
Healthcare Directive
LawHelpMN.org – Do It Yourself Healthcare Directive
This free program helps you create a Minnesota Health Care Directive (HCD), also known as a “living will”. The program works by asking you questions. It uses your answers to fill out your form. You can print your form, make copies, and make it legal. Depending on what kind of Health Care Directive you want to make, it could take over an hour to get through the interview. If you only want to appoint a healthcare agent, it could take less than 20 minutes.
The mission of Light the Legacy is to educate and empower the people of Central Minnesota about the importance of personal health care planning through facilitating conversation and inspiring action.
University of Minnesota Extension
The Minnesota Health Care Directive Planning Toolkit helps you create a health care directive. The toolkit contains step-by-step instructions (and suggested forms) for completing a health care directive.
Five Wishes is an advance directive that addresses your personal, emotional, and spiritual needs as well as your medical wishes. There is a cost associated with receiving their materials.
Prepare for Your Care
PREPARE for Your Care™. PREPARE is an online resource in English and Spanish that helps people learn about and prepare for medical decision making. This evidenced-based tool features video stories and examples and guides people as they explore their wishes and learn how to discuss them with family, friends, and medical providers.
Planning My Way (PMW) is a project of the Cunniff-Dixon Foundation and includes a consumer-oriented print and digital workbook experience that helps individuals and families think about, learn and communicate what matters to them as they contemplate both legal and supporting future health care directives.
In 2018, Honoring Choices of Minnesota approached the Center of American Indian and Minority Health (CAIMH) to collaborate on a project to increase healthcare directives in AIAN communities. CAIMH assembled AIAN students, faculty and community members to identify to create a toolkit for providers and community members.
Advanced Planning and a Dementia Diagnosis
A Guide on Advanced Care Planning Resources for People Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners
This guide is intended to be used primarily by people living with dementia and their care partners. It should be used as a tool to help navigate and provide recommendations for effective care, services, and considerations at various stages of cognitive impairment and dementia.
Alzheimer’s Association – Advanced Care Planning
Putting care plans in place as early as possible allows the person living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia to share their wishes with family members, care teams and/or legal professionals, and helps to ensure they have a say in their future care. The following are recommended ideas on what to discuss and keep in mind when planning future care, including palliative and hospice care.
Power-of-Attorney
Minnesota Attorney General’s Office
The Minnesota Attorney General’s office explains the specific requirements for creating a valid Financial Power of Attorney document in Minnesota, including the rights and responsibilities it grants to your designated agent. The resource covers important topics like agent selection considerations, the scope of financial powers you can delegate, and safeguards to prevent potential abuse.
Minnesota Judicial Branch
This webpage provides essential information from the Minnesota Judicial System on how Power of Attorney works in Minnesota.
Revocation of Power of Attorney
A competent person can revoke (take back) a power of attorney at any time. You must put in writing that you revoke the power of attorney, and sign and date this in front of a notary. Send copies to the attorney-in-fact and to any person, office or bank the attorney-in-fact dealt with for you. If you don’t send out copies of the revocation, the businesses won’t know, and your attorney-in fact could still try to do business in your name. You should also get the original power of attorney back.
Wills
Creating a Will with Free Will (will creation program courtesy of the Miller Dwan Foundation)
Transfer on Death Deeds (TODDs)
TODDs Information (from LawHelpMN.org)
A Minnesota Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) is an estate planning tool that allows you to transfer the title to real estate when you die to avoid probate. The deed conveys an interest in real property to a beneficiary and takes effect only upon the death of the grantor owner. It automatically transfers the property to the named beneficiary without the need for probate court proceedings.
MN Department of Commerce – TODD Form
Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)
Minnesota Medical Association
The POLST helps to ensure the patient’s wishes are conveyed to emergency services and other medical providers. The POLST form is used and recognized by hospital systems, long-term care facilities, medical professionals, and emergency medical services throughout Minnesota. The POLST form is one part of advance care planning and does not replace a healthcare directive. The POLST form should reflect a patient’s known wishes and should change if the patient’s wishes change. Unlike a healthcare directive, a POLST form must be signed by a licensed provider to be valid.
Financial Preparedness “Go Kit”
End-of-Life Planning
Commonly, members of AIAN communities hold cultural beliefs and practices about their bodies at the end of their lives that differ from the beliefs and practices of dominant US society. Because of hundreds of years of harmful US treatment directed at them, many AIAN people are less likely to share their wishes for end of life care and planning.
Hospice Providers
Aspirus St. Luke’s Healthcare
https://www.slhduluth.com/locations/aspirus-st-luke-s-at-home-hospice-duluth/hospice-services
Essentia Health
https://www.essentiahealth.org/services/hospice-care
Ecumen Hospice
http://www.ecumenhospice.org/
Fairview Health Services
https://www.fairview.org/
Gentiva Hospice
https://www.gentivahs.com/services/hospice-care/gentiva-hospice
Moments Hospice
https://momentshospice.com/services
St. Croix Hospice
https://www.stcroixhospice.com/hospice-care
Death Doulas
Rachel T. Schromen
651-571-2515
Rachel@SchromenLaw.com
http://www.SchromenLaw.com
Noelle Reed
Northwoods Doula
218-353-1404
northwoods.deathdoula@gmail.com
Serving Lake, Cook and St. Louis counties
Christy Moe Marek
Tending Life at the Threshold
952-240-4718
www.tendinglife.com
Vanya Rickmeyer
Ending Life With Grace LLC
320-336-8916
teamrickmeyer@outlook.com
endinglifewithgrace.com
Pat Campanaro
A Better Death
651-336-2964
pcampanaro@gmail.com
https://carepartnersofcookcounty.org/doulas/
Toni Lane
tonithetiger63@gmail.com
218-839-1290
Allison Ronning
Soulfeggio
218-393-4734
autumnchill@hotmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php/?id=100089830232405
Funeral Planning/Disposition of Remains
Funeral Planning Checklist – Minnesota Funeral Directors Association
Planning ahead for your funeral wishes is a thoughtful, forward-thinking gift for your family. With your wishes in hand, your family can confidently make decisions about your final tribute and never wonder if they did the right thing. But what details do you need to plan out? (Minnesota Funeral Directors Association)
Donate Life Midwest – Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation
Donate Life Minnesota serves as the official organ, eye, and tissue donor registry for Minnesota, operated by LifeSource. This vital platform allows residents to register as organ donors, learn about the life-saving impact of donation, and join a community dedicated to helping others. As part of the broader Donate Life network serving Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, this website provides essential resources and information about organ donation in the Upper Midwest. Through LifeSource’s management, the registry helps connect donors with those in need, offering hope and a second chance at life to thousands across the region.
University of Minnesota Medical School Anatomy Bequest Program
When choosing to make a profound impact on future generations of healthcare professionals, whole body donation through the University of Minnesota’s Anatomy Bequest Program offers a meaningful way to advance medical education and research. This respected program enables individuals to contribute to the training of tomorrow’s doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers while supporting crucial medical research that improves patient care. Through this thoughtful gift, donors become essential teachers, helping medical students gain the detailed anatomical knowledge they need to provide skilled, compassionate care. The Anatomy Bequest Program carefully facilitates every step of the donation process, ensuring donors’ wishes are honored while advancing the University of Minnesota Medical School’s mission of excellence in healthcare education and innovation.
Mayo Clinic Body Donation Program
Advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care begins with the selfless gift of body donation. Through Mayo Clinic’s respected Body Donation Program in Minnesota, donors become integral partners in medical education, pioneering research, and the development of innovative treatments. As a nonprofit, accredited institution with a rich history of medical breakthroughs, Mayo Clinic ensures that each donation serves its highest purpose – training the next generation of healthcare professionals and advancing medical science. From teaching medical students and residents to facilitating worldwide continuing education and groundbreaking research, every donation helps maintain Mayo Clinic’s commitment to excellence in patient care and medical innovation.
Funerary Honors
Many professions and organizations offer special funeral honors to recognize their members’ service and dedication. Planning ahead can ensure these meaningful ceremonies are part of your final arrangements. Here’s what you should know:
Military Veterans
Military honors are available to all honorably discharged veterans and include flag presentation and Taps. Contact the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (888-546-5838) to learn more. Keep your DD-214 with important papers and inform family members of its location.
First Responders
Police departments and fire departments provide ceremonial honors for active and retired members. Document your service dates and last department. Include this information with your advance planning documents and ensure your family knows to contact your department following your death.
Healthcare Professionals
Nursing honor guards provide special recognition for deceased nurses. If you’re a nurse, document your credentials, service history, and professional associations. Contact the Arrowhead Parish Nurse Association for more information at 218-722-5451 or by email at parishnursenemn@gmail.com
Fraternal Organizations
Members of organizations like the Freemasons, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Eagles, American Legion, and VFW may be eligible for special ceremonies. Keep your membership information and local chapter contacts with your important papers.
Legacy Planning
Planning Your Legacy: A Thoughtful Approach for Seniors – The Encore Project
Legacy planning is about more than just finances and estate distribution – it’s about preserving your values, wisdom, and life lessons for future generations. This thoughtful guide explores how seniors can create a meaningful legacy through documenting life stories, charitable giving, passing on core values, and managing their digital presence.
The Stanford Letter Project
The Stanford Letter Project, initiated in 2015, is a research-based initiative that helps people communicate their end-of-life care wishes through letter-writing templates. Created after extensive multicultural research and discussions with patients, families, and healthcare providers, the project addresses a critical gap: while both doctors and patients recognize the importance of end-of-life care discussions, many struggle to initiate these conversations. The free letter templates help individuals clearly document their care preferences, potentially reducing unwanted medical interventions and easing the emotional and financial burden on families.
The Stanford Legacy Project
This booklet is a guide to help you create a life legacy for family and friends. This life legacy project will help you bring together your family’s history, preserving the memories and events that represent your own and your family’s life story. It is a way to pass on your thoughts, your values, and your jokes, as well as your knowledge of the events that shaped your ancestors’ lives and your hopes for the future.
Digital Legacy
How to Prepare Your Digital Life for Your Death | PCMag
Planning for digital life after death isn’t a topic many of us want to think about, but it’s increasingly important in our connected world. This comprehensive guide from PCMag walks you through essential steps to protect your digital legacy – from setting up legacy contacts on major platforms like Google and Apple to managing password manager access for loved ones.
Get Your Ducks in a Row 