Health care professionals encourage Americans gathering with extended family for the holidays to have frank, honest conversations about their wishes in the event of a serious disease.
The Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York asks families to include palliative care in those discussions.
Palliative care emphases improving quality of life while a person copes with chronic and serious health conditions.
Michael Burgess, New York government relations director of the American Cancer Society, said the conversation is important enough NOT to put off.
"People at every age should be having their medical wishes known if they were not able to exercise those themselves. Would you want to be on life support, what kind of extra treatment would you want to keep you alive?" said Burgess.
Several organizations announced the creation of the New York State Palliative Care Collaborative this week, which plans to educate the community and legislators comfort care during a life threatening illness.