Do you have up-to-date healthcare advance directives?
New Hampshire Celebrates National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, 2021
The Foundation for Healthy Communities, along with many other organizations across the state, joined a national movement in observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16th to highlight the importance of advance healthcare directives.
“National Healthcare Decisions Day is a reminder to talk with your provider, your family or friends about your healthcare wishes in the event of a medical crisis,” said Brian Kugel, Program Coordinator at the Foundation for Healthy Communities. “Engaging in the conversation and completing an advance directive allows you to decide who will make your healthcare decisions you ever lack the capacity to do so, and it’s one of the most important conversations for families to have with each other, especially during times like these.”
A new study just released by the Foundation for Healthy Communities with the 26 community hospitals in New Hampshire found that while 48% of patients reported having an advanced directive when asked at time of admission, only 38 percent of 1,508 patients had advance directive information in their medical chart on record with the hospital or provider. An advance directive guides care when a person lacks the capacity to make their own health care decisions.
“The focus of National Healthcare Decisions Day is on education, for families and for healthcare providers,” Kugel added. “Its goal is to increase the number of people who understand the importance of advance care directives and planning for serious illness or end-of-life care.”
Advance Directive Support at
the Aging Resource Center
If you need assistance completing an Advance Directive
or if you have questions about the process, please call:
The Honoring Care Decisions Program
at The Centers for Health and Aging
603-653-3404 or 800-730-7577
