News release: “Fewer than one-third of the adult population have a health care power of attorney or other advance directive. While many of us may be afraid to talk about death, it is critically important to name someone to make health care decisions for you if and when you are no longer able to speak for yourself. Secondly, talk about your end-of-life values and goals with that person and other loved ones. This will help ensure that loved ones aren’t burdened with “guessing” end of-life care wishes in the event of a sudden change in health or a life threatening accident.

The National Healthcare Decisions Day initiative takes place on April 16. It is part of a collaborative effort of national, state and community organizations committed to ensuring that all adults have the information they need to be proactive in communicating and documenting their healthcare decisions. The American Bar Association has a 10-point toolkit for consumers that helps make the process easier to navigate. And the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization provides state-specific forms for use.

To help educate consumers, the ABA Commission on Law and Aging has developed free resources to help you make, discuss and document future healthcare wishes and decisions, including a fact sheet titled 10 Myths and Facts About Health Care Advance Directives. Additional resources on advance planning and end-of-life legal issues can be found at ABA Law Info: Your Gateway to Information on Legal Topics that Affect Your Life.