National Health Care Decisions Day - April 16, 2018
April 16 marks National Health Care Decisions Day. The day was founded to encourage adults of all ages to discuss future health care decisions with family, friends and health care providers.
It’s important that all adults discuss and document their health care wishes in the event of a crisis so that they receive their preferred form of care. Accidents and illness can happen to anyone at any time – regardless of age or current health – but far too few of us have done anything to plan ahead. It always seems too early, until it’s too late.
Often, the hardest part is raising the topic. National Health Care Decisions Day creates a reason to “have the talk” and provides the tools to do it successfully.
Discussing your wishes can be one of the most important gifts you give your loved ones, who can’t act on your wishes unless they know what they are. Advance care planning eliminates the guesswork and ensures you receive the appropriate care that you desire.
Advance health care planning is more than just a document – it is a process that should focus first on conversation and choosing an agent.
The National Health Care Decisions Day website offers many free resources to start and structure the conversation and document decisions made. “Conversation Starter Kits” are also available at theconversationproject.org, the sponsor of the day.
Missouri resources are available at missourilawyershelp.org. Additionally, the American Bar Association also offers a toolkit for advance health care planning.
At Seniors Home Care, we help those who wish to age in place. If you know someone who may need assistance maintaining their independence, please contact us. We’re also happy to make referrals for anyone seeking help with the healthcare decision making process.
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Advocacy and Education