More than 350 Events April 16, 2009 in Recognition
of First National Healthcare Decisions Day
Alton, IL � A grassroots effort to promote advance care planning and healthcare decision making has exceeded all expectations with more than 450 participating organizations in all 50 states. The first National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), which was conceived less than a year ago and implemented with no budget or full-time staff, has generated tremendous attention.
�I am blown away by the response to our grassroots effort,� said Nathan A. Kottkamp, chair of the National Healthcare Decision Day initiative. �National, state and community organizations have embraced this call to action to help Americans understand the importance of making and documenting healthcare decisions.�
Joining the 75 national organizations participating in National Healthcare Decisions Day are more than 370 state and community organizations, including healthcare providers, aging service organizations, attorneys, financial planners and other service organizations.
Senior Services Plus, 2603 North Rodgers Ave, Alton, and the Coalition for End of Life, will host a National Health Care Decision Day event on April 16, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Guest Speakers will be; Leonard Berg, Attorney at Law, Dr John Hoelscher, and Cathy Williams of Williams and Sons Funeral Home. The program will be chaired by Zeke Jabusch, President of the Senior Services Plus Board of Directors and member of the Illinois Coalition for Improving End of Life Care Board.
�We are amazed by the number of organizations participating in this event nationally and the amount of attention they have generated leading up to April 16th,� remarked John Becker , Executive Director of Senior Services Plus. �The response demonstrates that even though everyone accepts the fact that these decisions inevitably need to be made, and the impact it has on families involved, Americans struggle with advance care planning.�
National Healthcare Decisions Day is an initiative to encourage individuals to express their wishes regarding healthcare through conversations and the completion of advance directives. NHDD is also working with providers and facilities to ensure that individual wishes are respected, whatever they may be.
The NHDD coalition includes more than 75 national organizations as well as 375 state and community organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and at international U.S. Military bases. Locally, the Illinois Coalition for Improving End of Life Care, is the organization responding to this effort.
Organizations and individuals interested in learning more about advance planning may do so at www.ilcoalition.com or by calling 618-463-7007. Information pertinent to National Healthcare Decision Day can be accessed at www.nationalhealthcaredecisionsday.org, or by calling 800-658-8898.
To register for Thursday, April 16th program at Senior Services Plus, please call 618-465-3298.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lana Bertschi, Marketing Coordinator
Senior Services Plus
2603 North Rodgers Ave.
Alton, IL 62002
618-465-3298 lbertschi@seniroservciesplus.org
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