National Healthcare Decision Day (NHDD) will actually be observed for a week this year. The 50-state annual initiative promoting the importance of advance-care planning will take place from Sunday through Saturday, April 22.

This year’s theme is “It always seems too early, until it’s too late,” which reflects the remorse too often felt when someone dies or is stricken before explicitly communicating their healthcare plans.

Organizers point out that NHDD exists “to inspire, educate and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.” NHDD is an initiative “to encourage patients to express their wishes regarding healthcare and for providers and facilities to respect those wishes, whatever they may be.”

NHDD is an initiative of The Conversation Project,

For more information about the week’s events, click here.