According to a 2006 survey published by the Pew Research Center, 95% of Americans have heard of a living will, which specifies the medical treatments that someone wants/doesn't want at the end of life. Unfortunately, less than a third of the population has actually created one (29%) according to that survey.
A living will is part of the advance directives every adult should put in place in order to make his or her healthcare choices known in case he or she cannot later communicate them when needed.
National Healthcare Decisions Day, which helps focus attention on the importance of advance healthcare planning, will occur on April 16, 2013. If you or someone you care about needs to establish advance directives, I encourage you to visit the National Healthcare Decisions Day website for more information and resources.
Have you thought about your end-of-life healthcare choices? Have you created a living will? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I’m hosting an Advance Directives Party on National Healthcare Decisions Day. We will have wine and cheese, talk about end-of-life health plans and fill out our documents. Come join the fun and get this important work done! After all, the only guarantees in life are death and taxes, right?
One week until National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16) and your party, Merilynne. Please post a follow up afterward and let us know how your event went, if you see this comment.
Thanks!
Chris
About.com Death & Dying Guide