Apr 12, 2018
Each year, National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is observed the day after tax day. NHDD is a day of education and awareness, aimed at encouraging adults to create an advance health care plan. Ideas for community events can be found on the NHDD website.
An advance health care directive is the document that helps an adult name someone to make health care decisions when the person cannot do so. In addition to creating planning documents, this is a good time to think and talk about the different kinds of health care and treatment one wants and does not want. Meaningful conversations about health care values generally lead to higher quality health care decisions and reduce family stress when a health care crisis arises.
The NORC website has an issue page regarding Advance Care Planning and End of Life Care with information for how Ombudsman programs can support a resident that wants to develop an advance care plan, advocacy considerations, and resources to share with consumers..
For additional information, The American Bar Association Commission on Law and Aging provides free resources on health care decision making laws and advance health care planning.
If you have any questions email, ombudcenter@theconsumervoice.org.
