Saturday, April 11, 2009

National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is Thursday, April 16.

This nationwide initiative is designed to raise public awareness of the need to plan ahead for health care decisions and to encourage the use of advance directives to communicate important health care decisions. NHDD 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 opportunity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions. It is estimated that only about 25 percent of people in the United States have executed an advance directive. Moreover, it is estimated that less than 50 percent of severely or terminally ill patients have an advance directive. We hope you will help to raise public awareness about the need for advance planning. To learn more about NHDD and how you can become involved, please visit:

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

We all know the best planning can be easily rolled over by a judge, but nontheless, we have to plan the best we can.

helensniece said...

It is a good idea to execute all legal documents with credible witnesses present and wise step is to have a video of the event with copies stashed near and far for any future oppposition and conflict.

We learned that all of us are future potential victims of the out of control guardianship / estate probate racket but there are ways to be pro-active to make your wishes known, now, before the vultures with $$$ signs in their eyes, begin to circle their prey.

StandUp said...

The main thrust of the day is to get a good conversation going within the family unit. So, everybody knows what Mom and Dad want done --- no questions later!

Anonymous said...

I think none of us want to face our mortality but it's important to face it head on and make these important decisions while we're able to.

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a good reminder!