Holland Home hopes to help the community better understand advanced care planning with its presentation of the documentary Being Mortal on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Based on the best-selling book by Dr. Atul Gawande, the film explores the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness and their relationships with those who care for them. The film explores the intersection of life, death, medicine and what matters most in the end.

Following the screening of the film, Holland Home will hold a panel discussion on the importance of advanced care planning with local palliative care expert, Dr. John Mulder, of Holland Home’s Trillium Institute.  What makes this panel discussion unique is that Dr. Mulder has had his own experience with end of life planning and values-based decision making, when he was diagnosed with terminal lung disease in 2015. Dr. Mulder brings not only his professional expertise, but his personal experience, to his understanding of the importance of end of life care and what is most important to the patient.  He will be joined by Carol Robinson of Making Choices Michigan.

“Our hope is that Being Mortal will be a catalyst for families to take a deeper look at end of life care and what they desire the end of life to look like,” said Dr. Mulder.  “The end of life can be more joyful and more meaningful when resources are in place to honor your wishes.”

The event is free and will be held at Holland Home’s Raybrook campus, located at 2121 Raybrook Drive SE. No registration is necessary. For more information, visit hollandhome.org or call 616-235-5000.