Did You Know That April 16th is National Healthcare Decisions Day? National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning done ahead of time before incapacity can occur!
This holiday was founded in 2008 by Attorney Nathan Kottkamp, a Virginia-based health care lawyer. The purpose of this national holiday is to inform the public of the crucial need for this type of planning to be put in place, as well as guide them along that process and to provide clear, concise, and consistent information on healthcare decision-making so that they can make the best decisions for themselves.
NHDD is a series of independent events typically held across the country, supported by a national media and public education campaign. In all respects, NHDD is inclusive and brings a variety of players in the larger healthcare, legal, and religious community together to work on a common project, to the benefit of patients, families, and providers. A key goal of NHDD is to demystify healthcare decision-making and make the topic of advance care planning inescapable. Among other things, NHDD helps people understand that advance healthcare decision-making includes much more than just simple living wills; it is a process that should focus first on conversation and choosing an agent, and making sure that they know your wishes for future care, should they have to voice them for you.
As of June 2016, The Conversation Project has been responsible for the management, finances, and structure of the NHDD holiday. NHDD’s founder, Nathan Kottkamp, continues to be involved in NHDD and provides leadership by ensuring the maintenance of NHDD’s high quality resources and support for the community. Read more about NHDD’s founding here: https://theconversationproject.org/nhdd/origins/
The vision for this project is across the country, every healthcare facility will participate as the flagship venues for the public engagement. Other participating organizations/facilities that have their own physical spaces to offer will engage in activities as well. Those organizations that lack physical spaces will work in conjunction with others or at non-healthcare venues (libraries, grocery stores, drug stores, etc.) to support the initiative. A variety of churches, synagogues, and mosques around the country will also support the effort by highlighting the importance of advance care planning within their congregations.
Not sure where to start and want to learn more about putting your own estate planning together? If you or a loved one are concerned about issues with estate planning and elder law concerns including Asset Protection/Medicaid Planning and questions regarding long-term care and the nursing home, reach out to us! Book a call with us on our website: www.VAElderLaw.com to see how we can help! We have offices in Bassett, Danville and Lynchburg to serve you.
Reference: The Conversation Project (April 11, 2023) “National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) April 16, 2023”
