For many families, a conversation about advanced care planning doesn’t happen until a health crisis occurs, leaving family members unsure of their loved one’s wishes. While this conversation can be difficult, it is an important one. At Senior Lifestyle, we believe it is vital to provide those we serve with information that aids in making healthcare choices, so we proudly support National Healthcare Decisions Day as a means of empowering our residents and families with information and access to tools to make advanced care planning easier.
An initiative of The Conversation Project, National Healthcare Decisions Day exists to raise awareness of the importance of advance care planning. Observed on, April 16th, this annual event aims to empower people with information on how to discuss and put in writing their wishes should they become seriously ill and unable to communicate those wishes to a loved one or healthcare provider. At Senior Lifestyle, we understand that each person’s wishes are as unique as they are and we encourage families to discuss all aspects of care in order to fully respect those wishes.
For many, the prospect of talking about final wishes is daunting, and the process of making those wishes known to loved ones and healthcare providers may seem mysterious and unnecessarily convoluted. While state laws differ regarding advance care planning, The Conversation Project believes that it is important to provide clear and concise information on healthcare decision-making in order to simplify the process. To remove barriers to the advanced care planning conversation and provide meaningful information instead of just forms to fill out, toolkits tailored to specific state guidelines are available to families as well as healthcare providers. These toolkits support and encourage each family to focus on the specific aspects of care that matter most to them.
Would your family know your wishes in the event of a health crisis? You can provide yourself and your loved ones with peace of mind by taking the time to think about and share your wishes. For more information about advanced care planning and National Healthcare Decisions Day, go to theconversationproject.org or visit our website at www.seniorlifestyle.com and start a conversation today.