Health & Hospice offering free advanced care directives planning today, National Health Care Decisions Day

Unfortunately, death is a subject many people are uncomfortable facing. Yet, due to the effects of illness, nearly one in three people who die in New Hampshire are unable to make their own health care decisions before they die. Too many people leave their family and friends agonizing about what interventions they would want or not want to be used.

On Wednesday, April 16 — National Health Care Decisions Day — Community Health and Hospice invites Lakes Region residents to take an important step and think about their future health care decisions if faced with serious illness or possible death. This day is an opportunity to exercise your right to decide what healthcare you may or may not want if you are near death. You can select the person you want to make decisions if you are not able to do so because of a medical condition.

Staff and volunteers at Community Health & Hospice are partnering with other state organizations to lead the Healthcare Decisions Day outreach in our own community. They will have resources available at Community Health & Hospice from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. and again from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m to assist you in completing your advanced care directives using the New Hampshire format. This service is free of charge. Please bring yourself, your loved ones, your neighbor… any adult who has let this important issue linger unaddressed. When you leave, you will have addressed the second inescapable issue of life and created a document for others to follow in your interest.

Community Health & Hospice is located at 780 North Main Street in Laconia. Parking is available adjacent to the building. You can reach us at 524-8444. Visit CH&H on the Web at: www.chhnh.org