National Healthcare Decisions Day 2018

“It always seems too early, until it’s too late.”
(National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) website: www.nhdd.org)

We could not agree more with the sentiment expressed in the above quote from the NHDD website. When it comes to creating advance planning documents for one’s future healthcare, we often hear individuals say that “it is too early for them to think about that,” or they say, “I will get around to it, one of these days.” The reality is that we never know when an illness or accident may lead to our incapacity. The good news, though, is that we can be proactive and plan ahead by creating an advance directive, prior to a personal healthcare crisis. In Illinois, the most common advance directive for healthcare is a durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (POAHC). This is the legal document that individuals use to select the person that they wish to be their voice for healthcare decisions, if they are ever unable to speak for themselves. By creating a POAHC now (while competent), individuals increase the chances that their healthcare wishes will be followed and that they will receive medical treatment in accordance with their wishes, should they ever be incapacitated,

This year NHDD is encouraging others to join in recognizing the importance of, and/or promoting NHDD throughout the entire week of April 16 – 22, rather than on just one day.  According to NHDD website (www.nhdd.org), NHDD “exists to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. NHDD is an initiative to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.” Additional information about NHDD 2018 and the themes for each day of NHDD Week can be found on the NHDD website.

The Elder Law Center, P.C. is pleased and honored to, once again, join with other national, state, and community organizations to lead a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.  As a participating organization, it is our pleasure to provide information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends, and healthcare providers, and to execute a written advance directive in accordance with Illinois state laws.  Specifically, throughout the month of April, the Elder Law Center, P.C. will be offering members of the community a unique opportunity to meet, on a complimentary basis with one of the following attorneys: Katie Lenert, Rick Petesch, or Connie Renzi, at our office located at 140 S. Municipal Dr., Sugar Grove, Illinois 60554.  At the conclusion of the informational appointment, individuals (who meet the Illinois statutory requirements) will have the option of working with the attorney to create and execute, free of charge, an Illinois durable Power of Attorney for Health Care specifically for them. The available appointments are limited, and will be scheduled on a first call, first serve basis.  For additional information about, and details, regarding our April 2018 NHDD event, see the attached flyer by clicking the following link:   Flyer

The Elder Law Center, P.C. (subsidiary of Mickey, Wilson, Weiler, Renzi & Andersson, P.C., www.mickeywilson.com) is located in Sugar Grove, IL, Kane County, in the Chicago Western Suburbs, phone number: 630-844-0065.