National Healthcare Decisions Day

Have you Signed your Five Wishes?

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD) is a nationwide initiative that encourages adults of all ages to plan ahead of a health crisis.

When we make health decisions ahead of time and put those wishes in writing, we bring peace of mind to our families. We enable our caregivers to advocate for us when we are unable to do so for ourselves. We are more likely to avoid the difficult situations that are so common when we become seriously ill and our loved ones are left to guess what we would have wanted.

Join the Movement

Businesses and not-for-profit organizations have participated in NHDD in an effort to promote their services in their community. Although healthcare providers have traditionally used NHDD to increase their patients’ completion of advance directives, hundreds of associations including faith-based organizations, community coalitions and workplaces used National Healthcare Decisions Day to increase member engagement.

How Five Wishes Can Help

Five Wishes is a comprehensive, person-centered advance care planning program that offers healthcare providers a proven, easy-to-use approach to having effective and compassionate conversations. For NHDD, consider using these resources to step up your community outreach:

Five Wishes - America's Most Popular Advance Directive

The most popular and easy to understand and use advance directive in America. This 12-page document, with a national circulation of more than 40 million, meets the legal requirements in all 50 states (some states require a special form – ask for more information). It includes important personal, emotional, and spiritual matters in addition to medical wishes.

About Five Wishes

Include Your Own Branding

Half or all of the outside back cover of Five Wishes can be custom printed with your organization’s logo, message and contact information. Place your order by March 20 to ensure delivery by NHDD. Contact our Partner Relations Team to get started.

Free Buttons and Stickers

When you order Five Wishes for your NHDD event, you can request to receive Five Wishes’ promotional "Have You Signed Yours?" buttons and/or Five Wishes stickers while supplies last. These are ideal for staff, volunteers and creating awareness.

Request yours here! Alternatively, you may also download the artwork free and print them yourself.

Five Wishes at Work

A new product from Aging with Dignity, provides a health-incentive program for employers to use with employees. It includes two Five Wishes advance directives, a Conversation Guide for Individuals and Families, and online resources to carry out the program.

Five Wishes NHDD Tools

Five Wishes is your resource for advance directives and end-of-life care issues. As the national leaders in advance care planning, we have developed these tools for you to that help you spread the word and get the most out of your NHDD initiatives:

Don’t Forget Social Media!

When you advertise your NHDD event on your social media platforms, don’t forget to tag @FiveWishes – we would love to see your posts so we can advertise your events on our LinkedIn and Facebook accounts as well! Tag a description, graphic or photo with one or more of the following hashtags: #FiveWishes, #NHDD and #ISignedMine. Additional information about National Healthcare Decisions Day and ideas for outreach may be found at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org.