No one really wants to plan for this, as if doing so brings it sooner. However, you may want to consider giving your loved ones a beautiful gift…the gift of having all your documents in order and decisions all made for your end of life and after death.
As you near the end of your life, your loved ones will want to spend as much time they have left with you as stress-free as possible. That can only happen if you have already discussed your wishes. This helps whether you have one family member or a dozen. The one family member won’t have to make any decisions alone, and the dozen family members won’t have to argue about what they think you would want. When you take the time to make decisions AND write down your wishes, then all the grieving family has to do is carry out your wishes and begin the process of living life without you.
To fill out the death certificate or for the executor of the estate to be put in place, your loved one will need vital information about you, for example, your parent’s full names and the state they were born in, your full name and place of birth, and so on. An original version of your birth certificate, marriage license, and your will are just some of the documentation needed for the executor. Take the time today to gather and store this information in one place (like The Living Prepared Workbook) and discuss your wishes with your loved ones. Give them peace of mind and as much ease with your passing as possible.
A care manager’s role is to listen and engage in dialogue with aging adults facing their mortality. Perhaps clients are living with an incurable illness or recently have been given a terminal diagnosis. They and their caregivers often want to talk about their end-of-life wishes. Care Managers like us can bring everyone to the table to help with what can sometimes be a difficult discussion to have. We can provide insight and experience for a safe space to discuss complex topics.
We’ve gathered just a few websites that might help get the conversation going and help you consider the next steps.
When in doubt, an Aging Life Care Professional (www.aginglifecare.org) can help you make a plan and provide the space to have a family meeting or conversation. Give us a call to learn more.