MMH Sponsors National Healthcare Decision Day Free Luncheon/Lecture

Massena, NY –Making sure that your legal documents are current and in order is one of those inevitable tasks that most of us assiduously try to avoid. However, like it or not, it’s an important part of the life process. To assist New Yorkers with this often uncomfortable chore, the New York State Bar Association is offering its 2017 Mitchell Rabbino National Healthcare Decision Making Day programs on helping elderly New Yorkers answer the question. This year Massena Memorial Hospital will partner with Efstathia G. Kyriakopoulos, Esq. of Snider and Snider Law Firm, to offer this program locally.

On Thursday, May 25, Efstathia G. Kyriakopoulos, attorney will present a free community seminar/luncheon on: Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies sponsored by Massena Memorial Hospital. What are the health care proxies and powers of attorney? How do they differ? What are the different kinds of power of attorney? How can these documents help avoid a guardian? What should be considered in choosing an agent? What must be done to complete these forms? The program will start at 11:30 a.m. in the hospital Wing Board Room, main level.

According to Kyriakopoulos, health care proxy and an appropriate durable power of attorney are tools that can avoid costly and time-consuming court proceedings for a guardianship. A major advantage of both the power of attorney and health care proxy is that they allow individuals to select whom they want to make financial and health care decisions for them if they become unable to make them on their own.

Since its inception, 21 years ago, National Healthcare Decision Making Day programs have offered valuable consumer information and assistance, and provided participants with the tools necessary to make informed legal decisions. The workshops continue to provide an opportunity for practicing lawyers to explain to the public legal procedures such as the creation of advance directives to plan for the possibility of incapacity, and making a will to ensure the appropriate distribution of assets at death.

To pre-register for the free community seminar/luncheon on Powers of Attorney, and Health Care Proxies, please call Massena Memorial Hospital Public Relations at 769-4262.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a volunteer, public-service project which will involve Efstathia G. Kyriakopoulos, Attorney, speaking on topics relevant to older New Yorkers, their family members and caregivers. Help MMH reach the goal of educating the public by attending the annual statewide Decisions Day program. The program is free of charge, and will last approximately one hour, and includes a question and answer session and a free lunch.