National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day is an important event that encourages people to discuss and document their healthcare wishes.

This day highlights the need for advance care planning, ensuring that individuals’ preferences for medical treatment are familiar to everyone involved. This practice often reduces the stress and uncertainty that often accompany serious illness or end-of-life decisions.

Reasons for Celebrating National Healthcare Decisions Day

Celebrating National Healthcare Decisions Day promotes awareness about the significance of planning for future healthcare needs.

It helps individuals understand the importance of having advance directives, such as living wills and healthcare proxies, in place.

These documents ensure that one’s healthcare preferences are honored, even when they are unable to communicate. By encouraging conversations about healthcare wishes, this day aims to demystify advanced care planning and make it a routine part of life.

The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of care and ease the emotional burden on families and caregivers​.

History of National Healthcare Decisions Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) was founded in 2008 by Nathan Kottkamp, a healthcare lawyer. He created this day to address the frequent challenges he observed in hospitals. 

Specifically, families and medical providers often struggle to understand and honor patients’ healthcare wishes due to a lack of clear directives. 

Kottkamp aimed to encourage conversations about advance care planning, making it easier for individuals to communicate their healthcare preferences and for providers to respect those choices.

The initiative began with Virginia Advance Directives Day in 2006, which was highly successful. Building on this success, NHDD was launched nationally in 2008. The day is designed to educate the public and healthcare providers about the importance of advance care planning.

NHDD helps people understand the value of documenting their healthcare wishes and appointing a healthcare proxy to make decisions if they are unable to. Over the years, NHDD has grown significantly, with numerous community groups and healthcare organizations participating to promote this crucial aspect of patient care​.

How to Celebrate National Healthcare Decisions Day

Host a Family Chat

Grab some snacks, gather everyone, and have a heart-to-heart about healthcare wishes. It’s not just about the serious stuff—add a little humor to lighten the mood.

Everyone can share their thoughts on what kind of care they’d prefer, turning a daunting task into a bonding experience.

Movie Night with a Twist

Why not watch a film that sparks conversations about healthcare decisions? Movies like “The Farewell” or “My Life” can kickstart meaningful discussions.

After the film, chat about the themes and how they relate to personal healthcare preferences. It’s entertaining and enlightening.

DIY Advance Directive Workshop

Set up a crafty afternoon where friends and family can create their advance directives. Provide colorful paper, pens, and templates.

Everyone can decorate their documents, making the process personal and memorable. Plus, crafting always adds a fun twist!

Host a Virtual Q&A

Invite a local healthcare professional for a virtual Q&A session. Friends and family can join from anywhere and ask questions about advance care planning.

This way, everyone gets reliable information while staying comfy at home, and knowledge sharing becomes a social event.

Play a “What If” Game

Turn hypothetical scenarios into a fun game. Pose questions like, “What if you couldn’t speak for yourself?”

Everyone writes their answers anonymously and then reads them out loud. It’s a playful yet profound way to understand each other’s wishes without pressure.