For Immediate Release: April 14, 2008

New York, NY – DecideYourCare.org, along with other national, state and community organizations, is leading a new effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making—designation of April 16, 2008 as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). DecideYourCare.org is providing information and tools for people to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives, such as healthcare power of attorney and living will, in accordance with New York state laws.  These resources are available at www.decideyourcare.org and www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

On April 16, at 12:30 p.m., DecideYourCare.org will receive a New York City Council Proclamation from Majority Leader Joel Rivera declaring that day to be Healthcare Decisions Day in New York.

DecideYourCare.org members include AARP, Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, American Cancer Society, Brooklyn NY, CancerCare, Council for Senior Centers & Services, Enclara Health, Friends & Relatives of the Institutionalized Aged (FRIA), Friends In Deed, Hospice Alliance of Downstate New York State, Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State, Metropolitan and New Jersey State Funeral Directors Associations, Metropolitan NY Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, National Organization for Empowering Caregivers (NOFEC), New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, New York Citizens' Committee on Health Care Decisions, New York Legal Assistance Group - Total Life Choices, New York Organ Donor Network, Petroff & Bellin, LLP, UJA Federation of New York - Jewish Healing & Hospice Alliance, Veterans Health Administration – VISN 3, Westchester End of Life Coalition.  These groups have endorsed this event and are committed to educating the public about the importance of providing clear and consistent information about advance directives.  They work to improve public knowledge and increase the number of New York citizens with advance directives.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Katherine Zucker, Executive Director, DecideYourCare.org. “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor patient wishes when the time comes to do so.”

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Media Contact: If you would like more information about advance directives, or to schedule an interview with one of our guest speakers, please call Katherine Zucker at 212-994-0388 or e-mail Katherine at decideyourcare@yahoo.com