Code Status: End of Life Wishes
About the Speaker Katie Berg, RN, is an experienced registered nurse from the Rice Lake area with a diverse background in healthcare spanning travel nursing, home care, hospice, and inpatient hospital nursing. Throughout her career, she has cared for individuals and families across a wide range of healthcare settings, gaining valuable insight into the importance of communication, education, and informed decision-making. As an independent nurse—not representing any particular hospital or healthcare system—Katie is passionate about empowering people with unbiased, practical information so they can confidently navigate their healthcare journey. Her mission is to promote open conversations about aging, advance care planning, personal healthcare preferences, and the importance of making your wishes known before unexpected medical situations arise. Katie believes that understanding your options and communicating your values are essential parts of living well. Through education, transparency, and compassionate conversation, she hopes to inspire individuals and families to take an active role in their health, support one another through important life transitions, and approach the future with greater confidence and peace of mind. Content: Planning Ahead: Compassionate Conversations About Future Healthcare Decisions Join experienced registered nurse Katie Berg for an informative, engaging, and uplifting discussion designed to help individuals and families navigate some of life's most important conversations with confidence and peace of mind. Many of us avoid discussing topics like serious illness, aging, or end-of-life wishes until we're faced with a crisis. This presentation provides a welcoming, judgment-free space to learn about advance care planning before difficult decisions arise. Topics will include: �� How to start meaningful conversations with aging parents, loved ones, and even ourselves. ● Understanding advance directives, living wills, healthcare powers of attorney, and other important legal documents. ● What CPR really looks like and realistic outcomes based on age and health. ● Common misconceptions about Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders and how they are used. ● Choosing a healthcare decision-maker and ensuring your wishes are known. ● Planning for quality of life, independence, and the kind of care you would—or would not—want. ● Tips for reducing stress and conflict for loved ones during medical emergencies. Whether you're planning for yourself, helping aging parents, or simply want to be prepared for the unexpected, this presentation will provide practical information, compassionate guidance, and the confidence to make informed decisions about your future healthcare.   The Thursdays at the U weekly series is free and open to the public thanks to support from the UW-Eau Claire – Barron County Foundation. Neither seating reservations nor parking permits are needed for in-person attendees. Although in-person attendance is encouraged, most talks in the series are livestreamed (https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fvideoplayer.telvue.com%2Fplayer%2FHDwuV3is8s5nNzWpdoDe7ey1dmO7F3CA%2Fplaylists%2F8694%2Fstream%2F865%3Fautostart%3Dtrue%26sequenceNumber%3D1%26showtabssearch%3Dtrue&data=05%7C02%7CWALKOFDS%40uwec.edu%7Cf13a5e6bbf2c4308312f08dd03880331%7Cdd068b97759349388b3214faef2af1d8%7C0%7C0%7C638670604907012062%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=UuQsjo7nHe3gTwTkZAnb6hSKH6wAboo%2FQ3v8oFpyokY%3D&reserved=0). They also are archived and can be watched later on the Thursdays at the U (https://barron.uwec.edu/business-community/free-viewing-lecture-series/?_ga=2.171377317.402834410.1672450604-1799238988.1655731488) webpage.