May 13, 2015

Senator Mark Warner

475 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Senator Johnny Isakson

131 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Warner and Isakson:

Second Wind Dreams, Inc. and the Virtual Dementia Tour support the bipartisan Care Planning
Act. The landmark bill you have introduced would improve care for those with advanced illness
by ensuring they have the tools they need to make informed choices based on their goals, values,
and preferences.
The Care Planning Act would ensure that patients with advanced illness receive the care they
want: no more, no less. Your bill provides patients with Medicare coverage for voluntary, teambased discussions of prognosis and care plans throughout the progression of advanced illness, not
just at the end of life. Critically, the bill also ensures that this benefit is both meaningful and of
value to patients, through the development of quality measures to ensure concordance with
patient values. We are also pleased to see mechanisms to enhance the use and portability of
Advance Directives across care settings and state lines.
Second Wind Dreams (SWD) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997. This
organization is changing the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams and
educational programs including its flagship program, The Virtual Dementia Tour (VDT). The
Atlanta-based organization has fulfilled thousands of dreams with help from community and
corporate involvement. The VDT is a scientifically proven method that builds sensitivity and
awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia by temporarily altering participants
physical and sensory abilities. This evidenced-based program simulates changes associated with
cognitive decline. This patented program offers hope by providing practical ways to create an
environment that supports the disease and increase understanding.
The Care Planning Act will go a long way to furthering our mission to change the perception of
aging especially for those with advanced illnesses by giving them the opportunity to be involved
in decisions with no fear of those well thought-out decisions being changed. Our goal at SWD is
to help those in the care continuum maintain the highest quality of life by fulfilling their dreams
and providing the best dementia training possible to insure those caring for them maintain the
dignity and respect they deserve. All too often the person with dementia loses his/her rights and
suffers the worst human indignity of being treated as though they are no longer a viable
participant in their care. This act will keep the person front and center in the care planning where
they belong.
Thank you for your bipartisan leadership on this important policy. Second Wind Dreams shares
your commitment to patients quality of life and ensuring that they have the tools they need to
make choices that are right for them and their families, and look forward to continuing to work
with you on this bill. Feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

P.K. Beville, M.S.

Founder and President, Second Wind Dreams
Author, Virtual Dementia Tour Series
pk@secondwind.org
www.secondwind.org
678-624-0500
678-429-6874