Last August, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with idiopathic ulcerative laryngitis. As someone who relies on their voice for both personal and professional communication, losing it felt like losing a part of my identity. My voice is not just a tool; it's an essential part of how I connect, advocate, and educate. From working with clients one-on-one to giving talks and presentations, my voice is integral to everything I do as an Independent Board-Certified Patient Advocate, Certified Senior Advisor®, and Solo Aging Advocate.

As young adults embark on new adventures—whether heading off to college, starting a new job, or moving away from home—it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook some crucial preparations.

If one does an internet search for "18-year-old checklist," you'll find a long list of exciting things young adults can do once they turn 18—like voting, signing contracts, and getting a credit card. However, a crucial item often missing from these lists is ensuring they have documents in place to protect their health and well-being. Without a HIPAA release, health care proxy, alternate proxy, and personal directive, young adults and their families / support team members may face significant challenges in emergencies. It's a small effort that can make a significant difference in times of need.

Research shows that people put off planning because they don’t know what to do, what they will need, or feel they do not have people to ask to fill important roles. Since it’s impossible to predict when you will need to navigate a medical emergency, it’s best to prepare proactively. Having a plan in place can give you peace of mind and some control at a time of uncertainty.

National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD), April 16 each year, educates and empowers the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning.

It is extremely important that adults 18 years of age and older (married/partnered, single, someone who has adult children or adult relatives to rely on and those who do not) have these documents in place! People often think of these documents as needing to be in place as part of one’s estate plan, but the reality is, they are critical to have in place today and every day going forward.

Crafting a well developed plan as one ages is imperative. For many people planning is overwhelming and it often leads to procrastination. Many will begin to work on planning when they get “around to it” and this can create complications. Planning is most effective when it is done proactively. If you are reading this and you were just waiting until you got “around to it,” that day has arrived.