April 16th is National Healthcare Decision Day. The nationwide initiative encourages families to have the sometimes-difficult conversations that deal with a person's medical care if they cannot advocate for themselves. Advanced Care Planning (ACP) allows a caregiver to make healthcare decisions based on a patient's desires rather than guessing their wishes.

Palliative Care is specialized medical care providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a severe illness. The idea of palliative care grew out of the hospice movement and is focused on improving a patient's quality of life. Counseling, a critical component of palliative care, is vital in helping both patient and family members set realistic goals based on desired outcomes.