Ideas to Jumpstart your Conversation-NHDD 2023
National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is an annual event held on April 16th that aims to raise awareness about the importance of advance care planning and encourage people to make their end-of-life wishes known. While discussing death and dying can be uncomfortable, it is essential to have these conversations and make decisions about our healthcare while we are still able to do so.
Having the Conversation is a Gift
Making end-of-life decisions is not just about ensuring that your wishes are respected. It is also about easing the burden on your loved ones who may have to make difficult decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate. By planning ahead and communicating your wishes, you can help your loved ones make informed decisions about your care and ensure that your values and beliefs are reflected in your medical treatment.
Watch Movies, videos, TV shows
One way to start the conversation about end-of-life care is by watching this short video created by The Conversation Project called “Practice Makes Perfect.” This 15 second video can help give you the boost you may need to get the conversation started.
Here is a list of movies, TV shows and documentaries compiled by The Conversation Project to help you jumpstart the conversation with your loved ones. Ideally, you can watch them together.
Read Books
Reading books on end-of-life care can also be helpful in guiding conversations about this topic. Some recommended titles include "Being Mortal" by Atul Gawande, "The Art of Dying Well" by Katy Butler, and "Final Gifts" by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley. These books provide insights into end-of-life care, the dying process, and how to have meaningful conversations about death and dying. Here is a list of 10 must read books about death and end-of-life care compiled by The Conversation Project. Here is an additional list of 12 more books compiled by The Conversation Project.
listen to Podcasts
Another great way to learn more about end-of-life care and advance care planning is by listening to podcasts. Many podcasts feature experts in the field of end-of-life care, who discuss topics such as hospice care, palliative care, and advance directives.
Some recommended podcasts include "Death, Sex & Money" by WNYC Studios, "Grief Out Loud" by the Dougy Center, and “All There Is” with Anderson Cooper. The Conversation Project has compiled a list of 18 podcasts about end-of-life care.
Listening to podcasts can be a convenient and engaging way to learn more about end-of-life care and start important conversations with your loved ones. By incorporating different forms of media, such as books, videos, and podcasts, you can deepen your understanding of end-of-life care and make informed decisions about your healthcare.
Free Resources
For those who want to take more action, take a look at the free guides on our website that can help with advance care planning. These guides include step-by-step instructions for creating advance directives, communicating your wishes to your loved ones and healthcare providers, and appointing a healthcare proxy. These resources are available in multiple languages and can be downloaded for free.
Not one and done conversation
National Healthcare Decisions Day serves as an important reminder that we should all take the time to consider our end-of-life wishes and communicate them to our loved ones. Having these conversations and making decisions about our healthcare can be challenging, but it is necessary to ensure that our values and beliefs are reflected in our medical treatment. By taking the initiative to plan ahead, we can ease the burden on our loved ones and ensure that our wishes are respected. If you’ve already had the conversation, it’s a good idea to revisit your wishes every year.