NEW YORK -- If you're looking for a unique gift for Valentine's Day, you might consider giving some peace of mind -- by deciding and sharing what type care you'd want in a health crisis.

The COVID pandemic has brought new urgency to the need for end-of-life planning. It may seem like an unlikely theme for a song, but the not-for-profit organization Compassion & Choices has put its advice to music to encourage people to prepare advance directives for end-of-life care.

Kim Callinan, the group's president and chief executive, said she hopes the song will help people find new ways to share messages of empowerment, gratitude and the importance of making plans aligned with their personal values and priorities.

"Valentine's Day is a time when you show your loved ones that you care about them," she said, "and one way to show that you care is to give the gift of clarity by documenting and discussing your end-of-life preferences."

The song, "This Is Your Show," features Broadway and film star Carmen Ruby Floyd. Callinan said the second verse captures the core message with the words, "You have the option to write your last chapter."

Brandi Alexander, national director of community engagement at Compassion & Choices, noted that surveys show African Americans are more likely to choose aggressive treatment to prolong life, but this group also is less likely than others to prepare advance directives, to let people know their wishes for end-of-life care.

"A lot of it has to do with a history of mistrust with the medical community, and really just not wanting to have the discussion," she said, "and therefore, we don't talk about it until it's almost too late or until we're in a time of crisis."

Alexander added that when her father died without making his own end-of-life wishes clear, it caused disagreement and tension in her family as they tried to decide what he would have wanted.

Callinan urged people to go through the process of deciding what level of care they want, and then communicating those wishes. The organization's website has a plan-your-care section that is free to use.

"That has a simple checklist that helps them to learn what priorities are most important to them and how to fill out an advance directive, how to make sure your doctor's aware of what you want; having conversations with your health care proxy and your loved one," she said.

She pointed out that end-of-life planning and discussions are about love, and how you or your family want to be cared for.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- A new study showed people who do not have a close friend or family member who has experienced a run-in with COVID-19 are more likely to express vaccine hesitancy than those who know someone who has been sick.

Jagdish Khubchandani, public health sciences professor at New Mexico State University, one of the researchers to probe vaccine hesitancy and reasons for it, said study participants were asked if someone in their social circle had been infected, hospitalized or died due to COVID-19.

"And those who said yes are more likely to accept a vaccine," Khubchandani reported. "So those who do not know anyone who has died in family or friends or hospitalized are two times more likely to deny a vaccine."

The study was published last week in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. It included 1,600 participants, with about 80% reporting they received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Of the remaining participants, 10% said they planned to get it, while 11% said they would not.

Khubchandani said vaccine refusal in the study group was higher among non-Hispanic Black people, political conservatives, independent-leaning voters, suburban dwellers, people with less than a college education and non-married individuals.

He believes hesitancy has been caused in part due to inconsistent messaging from the federal government about vaccines and about wearing masks.

"Vaccine hesitancy is a very complicated topic," Khubchandani acknowledged. "I've always said global health crises are also information and communication crises. We have no strategy to deal with the issue."

The Biden administration has avoided vaccine mandates until last week, when it announced vaccinations or proof of weekly testing will be required for federal government employees, including those in the health-care sector.

SEATTLE - Washington state's largest union of public workers has reached an agreement with the state on Gov. Jay Inslee's vaccine mandate.

The deal ensures access to and education about the shot on work time as well as an additional day of leave so workers can get vaccinated. The Washington Federation of State Employees filed a lawsuit in August to compel the state to negotiate in good faith on the details of the mandate.

Union president Mike Yestramski said the agreement is a win for public health and due process.

"This entire bargaining process and that lawsuit that we had filed," said Yestramski, "all of that was about impact bargaining and the fundamental right of unions to bargain workplace conditions."

The Washington Federation of State Employees is withdrawing that lawsuit.

The agreement also includes options for people near retirement and a consistent and equitable process across workplaces for employees seeking a medical or religious exemption.

More than 80% of members voted in favor of the agreement.

Yestramski said the union has continued to push for safety measures in the face of this virus.

"We've been pretty vocal," said Yestramski, "pretty open from the beginning of this pandemic that vaccination, masking, social distancing, all of those things are incredibly important pieces to end this pandemic and to keep our communities safe."

The Washington Federation of State Employees' includes 47,000 public service workers in state agencies, higher education and behavioral health.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana officials are conducting a survey to better understand the unmet needs of caregivers across the state, which they say will also help more Hoosiers age at home.

Darcy Tower, director of consumer success, strategy and operations for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Division of Aging, said the COVID-19 pandemic has spotlighted long-standing gaps in the care system, such as national shortages of care workers and high turnover.

She pointed out caregivers have faced unique challenges and stressors, from fear of exposing loved ones to the virus to dealing with the effects of social isolation.

"Most Hoosiers, they want to age at home," Tower reported. "And Indiana is working to give more people over age 60 on Medicaid this choice by really making long-term services and supports more effective and better coordinated."

Tower added long-term services and supports include in-home personal care, adult day centers, support for caregivers, assisted living and nursing-home care. She noted they promote the health and well-being of people who need assistance with day-to-day activities because of their long-term condition, disability or cognitive impairment.

Tower emphasized the Division of Aging has waiver services that allow Medicaid to pay caregivers, but she contended they need to expand the program to support needs that may not be financial, including education and training, or respite services.

"So many of these folks live under the assumption that caregiving is just really something that you do for the people who are important to us," Tower observed. "Of course, that is incredibly commendable. These are also people who need support."

Tower hopes the survey will help Indiana better meet those needs. She stressed if you are a family member, friend, neighbor or community volunteer providing care, companionship, transportation or financial or medical help to somebody 55 or older without the expectation of pay, her agency wants to hear from you, either at 800-258-7691 or at survey.indiana.edu/caregiver/volunteer.