National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), which is being celebrated as
a week-long event this year from April 16-22, aims to encourage all adults
with decision-making capacity in the U.S. to educate themselves, as well
as communicate and document their healthcare wishes and decisions.
Resources to help start advanced healthcare planning conversations, and
links to planning documents for Louisiana can be found
here.
“This year’s NHDD theme is, ‘It always seems too early
until it’s too late.’ It is especially fitting because unexpected
life events can happen at any age, so it’s important to let your
preferences be known to reduce confusion or disagreements about your care
if you are unable to communicate,” affirms Shelly Welch, Chief Clinical
Officer of North Oaks Health System. “We encourage everyone to start
the conversation with his or her loved ones and physicians.”
According to a 2013 national survey sourced by The Conversation Project,
90 percent of adults believe it’s important to talk about how they
would like to be cared for if faced with a life-limiting condition, but
only 27 percent have expressed their wishes to their families, friends
and physicians.
Welch adds, "A shared understanding about what matters most to you
can help make decisions that you and your family may face.”