Founded in late 2023, Care Prepared is a local nonprofit organization focused on compassionate healthcare planning, allowing families and individuals to receive the medical treatment they want before a health crisis occurs. Their mission is to increase the understanding, access, and documentation of healthcare planning for all individuals (regardless of race, gender, age, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation), especially those with life-limiting conditions before a medical crisis. Read more about them on their website, where you can also sign up for their newsletter!
The founding board of directors for Care Prepared is made up of 12 volunteers from our community. The board meets quarterly to provide the strategic planning, leadership, governance, and oversight of the organization. Tammy Turner, the Founder and President of Care Prepared, has an M.A. in Management of Aging Services from the Erickson School of Aging Studies at UMBC and a post-graduate certificate in the Management of Dementia Care Services.
Currently serving residents in Anne Arundel County, their primary audience is older adults or those individuals with serious life-limiting health conditions. They offer education and resources regarding advance care planning to the community with targeted outreach to underserved and marginalized populations. “Our impact is empowering individuals to align their wishes and values with the healthcare treatment they receive.” says Tammy.
Care Prepared offers a “Discuss Your Choices Program” where you can schedule an individualized consultation to review advance directive forms and talk through the medical treatment wanted for end of life care. In 2025, Care Prepared will offer a new “Discover Your Options” program. This outreach campaign will encompass workshops and presentations in the community, with the goal of reaching 500-1,000 individuals in Anne Arundel County. There will be a targeted focus on reaching out to minority populations in a culturally appropriate way – specifically, the Hispanic community, as studies have shown these groups have less access to healthcare and end-of-life planning. To schedule a workshop or presentation, email carepreparedinc@gmail.com.
“One of our founding donors, Steve Turner, supported our organization in memory of his wife Maggie because he saw how helpful advance care planning was during her journey with Parkinson’s disease. Having healthcare planning conversations early and often was a crucial part of providing the level of care and medical intervention Maggie wanted and needed.”