WASHINGTON, D.C. — As the winter months and holiday season approaches,Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder and CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), the leading organization representing nonprofit, community-based hospice and advanced illness care providers, is encouraging families to take time for one of life’s most meaningful — and often most overlooked — conversations: talking about end-of-life wishes and values before a crisis occurs. In recognition of National Hospice and Palliative Care Month this November, Tom – an end-of life, aging and advanced illness care expert – and NPHI are sharing critical guidance with five easy to follow steps to having these difficult, but essential conversations with family and loved ones.
“As the winter holidays approach, it’s an ideal moment to recommit to clarity and care for the people we love most. There’s never an easy time to talk about end-of-life wishes, but the sooner we start, the easier it becomes—for our loved ones and for ourselves,” said Tom Koutsoumpas, Founder & CEO of NPHI. “With fewer than one in three adults having documented their end-of-life wishes, this November’s National Hospice and Palliative Care Month is a glowing reminder for us all that high-quality care at the end of life isn’t just about medicine — it’s about humanity. These are conversations about living fully, maintaining dignity and independence, fulfilling goals and wishes, and ensuring that care reflects what matters most to each individual.”
To make these conversations easier, NPHI has released a new, easy-to-understand resource: A 5-Point Guide: Start a Conversation About Care Planning. The guide offers practical steps to help families talk about what matters most — from identifying decision-makers to putting wishes in writing and finding trusted nonprofit care providers.
The 5-Point Guide for Advance Care Planning
This easy-to-use guide helps individuals and families talk through the essentials of advance care planning in five approachable steps:
- Discuss your wishes early and often — before a crisis occurs.
- Identify who you trust to make healthcare decisions.
- Put your wishes in writing through an advance directive or living will.
- Talk with your healthcare providers to ensure your values are understood.
- Find a trusted nonprofit hospice or palliative care organization for support.
The full guide is available to download on NPHI’s public homepage.
Why These Conversations Matter
Research shows fewer than one in three adults have documented their end-of-life wishes — leaving families uncertain and overwhelmed when a health crisis arises.
Having these discussions early:
- Reduces family stress and conflict
- Ensures care aligns with personal values and faith
- Helps loved ones feel confident in honoring someone’s wishes
- Builds peace, understanding, and connection
Tom Koutsoumpas is the Founder and CEO of the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation (NPHI), a membership organization of over 120 nonprofit, community-based healthcare providers across the U.S that cares for a large proportion of the nation’s seriously ill and terminally ill patients. A nationally recognized advocate for person-centered care and healthcare transformation, Tom has spent more than four decades advancing healthcare access, equity, and quality in hospice and advanced/serious-illness care. Tom, an aging and end-of-life expert was recently featured in Forbes and US News advocating for the highest standards of care for patients and their families, while highlighting the critical role hospice plays across American communities.
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