An annual effort to educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning.
The National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization is promoting National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) to inspire, educate and empower the public about the importance of advance care planning.
Advance care planning involves making future healthcare decisions that include much more than deciding what care you would or would not want; it starts with expressing preferences, clarifying values, identifying health care preferences and selecting an agent to express healthcare decisions if you are unable to speak for yourself.
National Healthcare Decisions Day is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the United States have the information and resources to communicate and document their future healthcare decisions. Learn more about NHDD.
In honor of National Healthcare Decisions Day, NHPCO encourages everyone to:
Have A Conversation
Advance care planning starts with talking with your loved ones, your healthcare providers, and even your friends- all are important steps to making your wishes known. These conversations will relieve loved ones and healthcare providers of the need to guess what you would want if you are ever facing a healthcare or medical crisis.
The following resources can help guide your discussions:
Complete Your Advance Directive
“Advance Directives” are legal documents (Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney) that allow you to plan and make your own end-of-life wishes known in the event that you are unable to communicate. To learn more, download the “Understanding Advance Directives” brochure now.
State-Specific Advance Directives are available to download. Each state’s advance directive is legally reviewed on an annual basis and meets each state’s statutory requirements.
Completing an advance directive is an important step toward having your healthcare preferences honored. The “You Have Filled Out Your Advance Directive. Now What?” document lists the next steps you should take.
Engage Others in Advance Care Planning
Please pass along our brochures, information and advance directives to others in your family, workplace and community. Help others have a conversation about advance care planning.
This content brought to you by NHPCO Caring Info. See original article here.
