National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) is when a special focus is put on encouraging people, ages 18 and over, to seriously think about what level of life-sustaining care they want or how care should be provided in the event they are no longer able to make decisions for themselves. The theme for 2016 is "It always seems too early, until it’s too late."
Among other things, National Healthcare Decisions Day helps people understand that advance healthcare decision-making includes much more than living wills; it is a process that should focus first on conversation and choosing an agent.
In the commonwealth, one organization that can serve as a resource is Honoring Choices Massachusetts, which provides healthcare information and planning documents and tools that helps people ensure that their healthcare choices are understood and honored throughout their lives. MHA is a collaborating partner of Honoring Choices Massachusetts. Honoring choices Massachusetts is devoting the entire week (April 11 to 16) to educating the public and providers about the importance of advance planning.
A good place to start to make a plan is by appointing an Agent in a Health Care Proxy and giving your Agent information about the kind of care you want in a Personal Directive. Honoring Choices Massachusetts lays out the entire process on its informative webpage.