National Healthcare Decisions Day: Ensuring Your Voice is Heard

On National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), Russo Law Group would like to focus on and talk about advance care planning. This is a key component of healthcare that too often falls by the wayside as people focus on everyday medical issues like checkups, flu shots, and other acute concerns. Advance care planning allows patients to express their wishes regarding treatments they want or do not want in case they can no longer speak for themselves due to illness or injury.

Why Advance Care Planning?

It is important to realize that even if an individual does not have a diagnosis recognized by law – such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia – it still makes sense to document end-of-life decisions. Choosing someone you trust ahead of time to make medical decisions for you when you are unable to make them yourself is important. That person will be responsible for making sure your wishes are carried out.

Russo Law Group also recognizes that everyone has a right to make healthcare decisions for themselves if they have the capacity to do so. This means that patients should have access to information about their diagnosis and treatment options and be able to clearly communicate their medical decisions without pressure from providers or family members.

Why is this important?

On this day, it is more important than ever for individuals to recognize the significance of National Healthcare Decisions Day, take the time to understand what advance care planning is, and create an action plan if they haven’t already done so. Advance care planning documents such as a living will, or health care proxy can help ensure that a person’s wishes are honored even if they cannot speak for themselves.

It is imperative to remember that everyone has the right to make their own healthcare decisions and National Healthcare Decisions Day serves as an important reminder of this right. By taking part in NHDD, individuals, families, and providers can come together to create meaningful conversations about difficult topics such as end-of-life care and advance care planning. Through education and awareness, we can all take steps toward ensuring our wishes are respected when it comes to healthcare decisions.

CLICK HERE to learn more about “Protecting Your Future with a Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy”

For more information on advance care planning, please contact our law firm to speak with a qualified elder law and estate planning attorney to tailor a long-term care protection plan for you or your loved one. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.