Overview
It doesn’t matter if you’re 18 or 85, taking charge of your own health care decisions and planning ahead can not only ensure you can think about your choices and get the care that you want, but will reduce uncertainty and anxiety for those who care about you.
Since 2005, Sharing Your Wishes™ community coalitions have helped spread this message across western and central New York. Sharing Your Wishes is a program designed to make older adults aware of the importance of planning in advance for their health care in the event that they are unable to make or communicate their decisions.
In each community, a coalition of people is committed to improving care for older adults and, through outreach and education, distributing materials and working to create change within health care institutions, has made sure that talking about health care decisions before a crisis is now a conversation many individuals are having with loved ones.
Results
Though Health Foundation funding has ended, Sharing Your Wishes programs are still operating in 13 counties throughout Western and Central New York.