Valley Hospice is offering free community events as part of the National Healthcare Decisions Day observance.

The agency is providing information and tools for the public to talk about their wishes with family, friends and healthcare providers and to execute written advance directives (health care power of attorney and living will) in accordance with Ohio and West Virginia laws.

National, state and community organizations are leading a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making.

“As a result of National Healthcare Decisions Day, many more people in our community can be expected to have thoughtful conversations about their healthcare decisions and complete reliable advance directives to make their wishes known,” said Robert Kolb, Valley Hospice social worker. “Fewer families and healthcare providers will have to struggle with making difficult healthcare decisions in the absence of guidance from the patient, and healthcare providers and facilities will be better equipped to address advance healthcare planning issues before a crisis and be better able to honor wishes when the time comes to do so.”

Valley Hospice social workers and registered nurses will be on hand to answer questions and provide guidelines for those participating to create their own plan when they return home. Events and co-sponsoring institutions include:

∫ Vet Center, Bethlehem, noon to 2 p.m. Friday;

∫ Schiappa Library, Steubenville, noon to 4 p.m. Monday;

∫ Prime Time Senior Center, Steubenville, 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday;

∫ Tri-State Pharmacy at Weirton Medical Center, noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday;

∫ Marshall County Senior Center, Moundsville, 11 a.m. to noon April 27;

∫ Jefferson County Veterans Services Commission, 1-4 p.m. April 28.