LI Attorneys Advocate for National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a day to educate and empower the public about the importance of having Advance Directives – a health care proxy, living will and power of attorney. On that day, and throughout the entire month of April, people are encouraged to reflect on their health care wishes, including who you would like to appoint to make decisions for you should you be unable to make health care decisions yourself or communicate with medical providers, and what your wishes are regarding end-of-life care.

If Long Island attorney Jennifer Cona has her way, we will all get in the habit of circling National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) on our calendar to visit or revisit these critically important issues. “Everyone over age 18 needs to have a Health Care Proxy and Living Will. Illnesses and accidents can happen to any of us at a moment’s notice and we must be prepared."

By making these decisions yourself and legally documenting them in your Advance Directives, you relieve loved ones from the burden of making these difficult decisions for you, perhaps guessing what your wishes may have been, or worse, family fighting over what you may have wanted,” says Jennifer Cona, Founder and Managing Partner at Melville’s Cona Elder Law.

In a recent article, Ms. Cona stressed the importance of each family making their healthcare decisions, “at the kitchen table, not in the intensive care unit.” Her article notes the inherent risk when a person lacks the capacity to communicate their health care wishes and she counsels individuals to do so while they are still able. More importantly, the experienced elder law attorney defines and details the major steps one must take to protect themselves and their loved ones in the future.

“I understand having these critical conversations and executing the legal documents can cause us some discomfort,” added Ms. Cona. “However, I’ve seen too many people being cared for in a manner they would not have wanted and too many families damaged beyond repair after fighting over their loved one’s presumed wishes. That’s why I want everyone to have the conversation and prepare for the future. It’s as simple as that.”

As a public service, Cona Elder Law is hosting a National Healthcare Decisions Day Hotline on April 5th from 9 AM to 7 PM. Call 631-533-6665 to get all your Health Care Proxy, Living Will and Power of Attorney questions answered – for FREE. For those who want to learn more, Ms. Cona pointed to resources available to the general public on websites like https://theconversationproject.org/ and conaelderlaw.com/resources/download-free-compassion-tips/.

ABOUT CONA ELDER LAW

Cona Elder Law PLLC is an award-winning law firm concentrating in the areas of elder law, estate planning, estate administration and litigation, and health care law. Cona Elder Law takes a holistic approach to elder law, providing support and resources for older adults and caregivers, maintaining long-term, partnering relationships with clients to provide the best solutions for multiple generations. The firm has been ranked the #1 Elder Law Firm by Long Island Business News for eight consecutive years and received the Business Achievement Award from the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI). For additional information, visit www.conaelderlaw.com. # # #