Saturday is the ninth annual National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day to encourage all adults with decision making capacity to communicate and document their healthcare decisions. Some of the forms that can be filled out in advance include power of attorney for healthcare and living will paperwork, as well as advance directives for specific health care desires and writing a will.

Katie Smith, social worker with HCI Hospice Services, explains the point is to name someone to be your voice when you can no longer voice your own decisions. She adds these can be helpful for your family at a tough time because they know they’re acting out your wishes. For more information find the full Washington Page interview with Smith at KCIIRadio.com.