Advance care planning is something we all should do and encourage others to do, regardless of age or current health. April 16 has been designated National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD)!  This year, NHDD will run a full week. The theme for this year’s NHDD is “It always seems too early, until it’s too late.” Information, including resources you can share with residents and their families to help them have conversations about their wishes for end of life care planning, can be found on the NHDD website.  

The NHDD Initiative is a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults with decision-making capacity in the U.S. have the information and opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions.

The objectives of NHDD are to provide much-needed information to the public, reduce the number of tragedies that occur when a person’s wishes are unknown, and improve the ability of healthcare facilities and providers to offer informed and thoughtful guidance about advance healthcare planning to their patients.

Daily sub-themes for the week can help you plan activities in your community.  Don’t feel you need activities every day, but the daily themes may help for inspiration:

• Monday (4/16): NHDD/Prepare
  • Host your main event, since it’s NHDD!
  • Or use it as a day to get resources together
• Tuesday (4/17): Start with Yourself
  • A day to think about your own healthcare decisions
• Wednesday (4/18): Family/Friends/Loved Ones
  • A day to discuss your wishes with others (and learn their wishes)
• Thursday (4/19): Spread the Word
  • A day to tell others that you’ve engaged in advance care planning and encourage them to do the same
• Friday (4/20): Facilities Focus
  • A day for healthcare providers of all sorts to promote advance care planning
• Saturday (4/21): Professionals Preparedness
  • A day to ensure that all professionals (healthcare, clergy, legal, and others) understand and can promote advance care planning
• Sunday (4/22): Reflection and Readiness
  • Consider what worked well for NHDD week and file/share your advance care plans so they will be available if needed