National Healthcare Decisions Day | April 16

Read more about advance directives and how you can make your healthcare wishes known.

Apr 16, 2020

National Healthcare Decisions Day is April 16 – a day to highlight the importance of completing advance directives and communicating with your loved ones about health care wishes. During these uncertain times, it has never been so important to understand, complete or review advance care planning documents. We hope that we can answer some of the most common questions here.

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and documenting your end-of-life healthcare preferences before a medical crisis arises.

What is a health care power of attorney?

A healthcare power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to choose someone to make medical decisions for you if you are unable to do so. This person is called your healthcare agent.

What is a living will?

A living will is a legal document that directs decision making about your end-of-life care preferences.

Why is advance care planning important?

There are many reasons that advance care planning is important. #1 – when you plan, you get a voice. #2 – you take some of the burden off of your caregiver. #3 – allows your medical care providers to understand your goals of care.

What should I do with my documents?

Don’t hide them away – provide a copy to share them with your healthcare agent as well as your doctor(s). Ask if your documents can be scanned into your electronic medical record. Once shared, store them in a safe place and review them annually.

Thank you for taking time to learn more about advance care planning. Even though our public advance care planning events are temporarily postponed, we are happy to answer any questions you may have about advance care planning by phone.

To download your state-specific advance directive documents, click here.

For more information, call 336.889.8446.

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- Daughter of patient

Thank you for making your home like her home, warm and comfortable.

- Sister of a patient (in reference to Hospice Home)

Your kindness and efforts go far beyond the patients and extend to their families and friends.

- Family of a patient

Everyone who cared for my wife was, without exception, caring, kind, and exceptionally capable individuals who seemed to truly care about her well-being and care.

- Husband of a patient

Your staff (at Hospice Home) was confident, thoughtful, kind and very loving to my mom. When we couldn’t be there or take care of her needs, you took care of her.

- Son of a patient

My mother spent her last days in your facility. I want to thank you for the gifts you gave to her and our family. The dignity, caring, professionalism, and kindness will remain a bright part of our saying goodbye to our mother.

- Daughter of a patient

My family and I would not have made it without Hospice.

- Daughter of a patient

For many veterans, military service is the most important thing that they have done in their lives.” As part of We Honor Veterans, those patients are now paired with a volunteer who also served in the military and share a common bond.

- Joe Lyons, Hospice volunteer

Thank you for all of your care, concern, education and kindness during Mom’s last year. My grief journey has had a lighter backpack because of Hospice.

- A patient’s daughter

Their touch, their time, their words were the comfort of a lifetime.

- A patient’s family

We were privileged to have the support of (Hospice)…They nurtured and cared for my husband as if he was their only patient.

- Wife of a patient

Me consuela saber que mi esposa tuvo los mejores cuidados gracias a Hospice. La ayudaron a ella y a nuestra familia en todas las maneras posibles.

- Marido de un paciente

I thank God for putting good people in the right job for people like me.

- Patient family member

We were so impressed by your staff and your desire to help us. No one wants to need Hospice, but when a person does, it is a tremendous blessing. Thanks again for the care you gave my dad, and ultimately all of us.

- Daughter of a patient

I would like to say that you have a beautiful Hospice Home. It is so nice and serene. I love the “quiet spots” that you can go to and meditate. Thank you so much in helping make my mother’s last days on this earth a little better and comforting.

- Daughter of a patient