NASW Promotes National Healthcare Decisions Day 2011

Advance care planning enables individuals to consider, discuss, and document health care decisions before a crisis occurs

Washington, DC - The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in collaboration with other national, state, and community organizations, supports the fourth annual National Healthcare Decisions Day on April 16, 2011. National Healthcare Decisions Day was established to encourage advance care planning for all adults with decision-making capacity.

Although several states and numerous organizations have devoted substantial time and money to improving education about advance care planning, only a small minority of Americans have executed advance directives. National Healthcare Decisions Day mobilizes national, state, and community organizations, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders to promote awareness, completion, and discussion of advance directives.

“Advance care planning enables individuals to consider, discuss, and document health care decisions before a crisis occurs,” says NASW Executive Director Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH. “Social workers can help people considering their health care options to explore the goals and values that guide this decision-making process.”

Social workers routinely advocate for advance care planning and are an excellent resource for people who are unclear about the benefits of such planning or are reluctant to complete advance directives. Social workers can offer information about the process of creating a living will and choosing a health care agent and often help individuals understand and prepare advance directives.

NASW is proud to support National Healthcare Decisions Day 2011 and believes this event will increase Americans’ awareness and use of advance directives.  

For more information on NHDD, visit: www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org