St. Lukes Hospital, Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, Isothermal Community College and Tryon Estates, along with other national, state and community organizations, are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-makingan effort that has culminated in the formal designation National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD).

As participating organizations, they are providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers, and execute written advance directives (healthcare power of attorney and living will) in accordance with North Carolina state laws. These resources are available at www.saintlukeshospital.com or www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.

Specifically, on April 20, at 3 p.m., they will be welcoming the public with Coffee and Conversation: A Discussion About End of Life Issues. The program will be held at Tryon Estates with free information about advance care planning and advance directive forms. Join Dr. Andrew Kamell, attorney Ed Harrelson and Chaplain Dr. Bob Lair along with social workers Liz Crawley and Meg Hoke for a discussion on advance care planning and why you should make your future healthcare decisions known to family, friends and healthcare providers. There will also be staff there to assist in completing the forms.

Coffee and Conversation: A Discussion About End of Life Issues will be held again at 6 p.m. at ICC Polk Campus.

My father discussed his wishes regarding advance directives and put them down in writing for his family, says Liz Crawley, Social Worker for Hospice of the Carolina Foothills. The grief and heartache that he saved us was immeasurable, because no one wanted to make the decision to take him off of life support. He made the decision and our family was able to be at peace because of his thoughtfulness.

To make a reservation or for more information about National Healthcare Decisions Day, please call 828-894-7000 or 828-894-2408.