OKEECHOBEE — In observance of National Healthcare Decisions Day on Thursday, April 16, Treasure Coast Hospice, recently recognized with a 4-Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will distribute advance care planning materials at the Okeechobee Public Library located at 206 SW 16th St. Staff and volunteers will offer information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with loved ones, including Five Wishes, America’s most popular advance directive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Founded in 2008, National Healthcare Decisions Day is observed annually on April 16. Its goal is to increase the number of Americans who have completed an advance directive (“living will”), in which they name the person who will make medical decisions for them in the event they are seriously ill and can’t speak for themselves. Experts say only about 20-30% of Americans have completed an advance directive even though all people age 18 and older should have one.

“Advance care planning empowers individuals to shape their future healthcare decisions and ensures their end-of-life wishes are honored with compassion and respect,” said Treasure Coast Hospice CEO Jackie Kendrick, CHPCA.

Treasure Coast Hospice staff and volunteers will encourage community members to prepare their advance directives by distributing Five Wishes, America’s most popular advance care planning program at participating area libraries. Five Wishes, a 12-page booklet that helps guide individuals in discussing personal, family, and spiritual matters, in addition to medical and legal concerns, is a valuable tool for beginning difficult family discussions. When completed, it meets the legal requirements of 46 states and is useful in those states that still require state forms and mandatory notices. To meet the cultural needs of the community, English, Spanish, and French Creole versions of Five Wishes will be available.

“Five Wishes deals with the things people say matter most to them,” said Five Wishes President Paul Malley. “It allows them to clearly state what kind of treatment they want or don’t want so their families aren’t left to guess or second-guess. Treasure Coast Hospice is providing a helpful service to the whole community by offering Five Wishes, and it’s a sign of their commitment to understand and honor the wishes of those whom they serve.”

About Treasure Coast Hospice

Treasure Coast Hospice is a non-profit community organization of skilled professionals and dedicated volunteers whose mission is to provide access to compassionate, caring, expert and professional hospice and grief support services to patients and families at the end of life. Founded in 1982, Treasure Coast Hospice has grown to serve more than 4,000 patients annually in Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties. Thanks to the generous support of our community, the Treasure Coast Hospice Foundation is able to fund comprehensive hospice and grief support programs for Treasure Coast Hospice, including three Inpatient Units for those who need a higher level of care, the specialized pediatric program Little Treasures, music therapy, massage therapy, virtual reality experiences, individual and group bereavement services, and Camp Good Grief for children who have experienced the loss of a loved one.

About Aging with Dignity
Founded in 1996, Aging with Dignity is a national non-profit organization that seeks to protect the God-given human dignity of the most vulnerable among us. Five Wishes is an advance care planning program created with help from national legal experts, with initial development and distribution funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.