North Shore Medical Center Preps for National Healthcare Decisions Day

From North Shore Medical Center: April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day when we look to help educate the public about the importance of advanced care planning. This year is the 10th anniversary of National Healthcare Decisions Day.

The purpose of advanced care planning is to discuss and document your end-of-life wishes in case you become unable to communicate as a result of terminal illness or critical injury. We encourage everyone over the age of 18 to fill out a Health Care Proxy form which assigns someone near to you the responsibility of being your voice in case health care decisions need to be made on your behalf. By selecting a health care proxy, completing a living will, and just discussing what would be most important to you, you will help lift a huge burden from your loved ones’ shoulders.

During the week of April 16, we encourage all adults to start the advanced care planning conversation with loved ones. We understand that this can be difficult to do. One tip of advice that can help make the conversation proceed a little more easily is to let family members know ahead of time that this is an important topic to you and to set aside a time to be together, away from distractions, to start this important conversation. During the discussion, it’s important to keep in mind:

• Be patient, because some people need time to think.
• Living wills and health care proxies can be changed at any time.
• Value and respect your loved one’s decisions, and opinion.
• Choose someone as a Health Care Proxy that you believe can speak up for what you would want for yourself.

Here at North Shore Medical Center, we are proud to promote National Healthcare Decisions Day. We encourage everyone to join Americans across the country in making their future healthcare preferences known to family, friends, and healthcare providers.

For more information, please visit nsmc.partners.org.

Image via Shutterstock