National Healthcare Decision Day

National Healthcare Decisions Day is a nationwide initiative focused on advance care planning ensuring your healthcare wishes are understood and honored.

Plan with Purpose: National Healthcare Decision Day

This week, National Healthcare Decision Day is April 16th. We want to recognize this day as a reminder to pause and think about how we all want to be cared for, now and in the future. As we move through 2026, this is a chance to reflect on what preparedness means for each of us. Whether it’s planning for the unexpected or having thoughtful conversations with the people we trust, taking even small steps today can make a meaningful difference later. Over the next two months, we invite you to consider your healthcare wishes, who should be involved in those decisions, and how you can document and share what matters most.

How do you plan ahead?

1. Think about what matters most to you.

Think about your hopes and goals in life. Think about the things you like to do or experience that give you joy and meaning in your life. You may want to think about what fears or worries you have about the future. It's okay not to know exactly what matters most to you; it could change over time.

2. Tell someone

How much do the people who matter to you know what matters most? Talk to your family and friends about your wishes. Talk to your health care team. Conversations help clarify what you think and how you feel.

3. Choose a surrogate decision maker (A surrogate is someone who could make decisions for you if you were unable to do so)

Think about the person you would like to be your decision-maker. A good decision-maker is someone you can trust to make the decisions you ask them to make and who will be able and willing to speak up and voice your thoughts and feelings to the healthcare team

4. Complete an Advance Health Care Directive

There are several Advance Health Care Directive forms that are valid in California. One example is PREPARE For Your Care —an online step-by-step program to complete an advance health care directive.