Around 90 percent of people think it’s important to talk with loved ones about end-of-life care, yet only 27 percent actually do.
So, despite the fact the making end-of-life decisions is an inevitability for every person, we aren’t taking it seriously. It’s easy to put off and avoid the difficult decisions, but facing them head-on can actually make your life, and passing, easier.
Don’t get left behind and stuck in a predicament regarding end-of-life decision-making; be proactive and sort out the logistics now.
Read on for your end-of-life decisions checklist.
Don’t Put It Off
Reading this article is a great start, but you need to make sure you have everything in order while you’re in good health and of sound mind.
Whether you’re thinking about yourself or making end-of-life decisions for loved ones, it’s infinitely easier to make these choices when you aren’t in crisis.
Talk to your loved ones about each of your wishes for end-of-life care, and make sure to talk about each aspect. For example, consider medical intervention wishes, funeral arrangements, and inheritances.
Employ a Professional
Making decisions at the end of life is very difficult; luckily, you can avoid difficult choices when they’re needed if you sort things out preemptively. However, getting everything right is both complex and emotionally taxing.
There’s no need to do it yourself; ask for help from someone that knows what they’re doing. Hire a lawyer to advise on and write your will, and a real estate attorney to advise on any property.
Sort Your Documents
End-of-life care decisions have to be done precisely by the book; there’s a life at stake after all. So, it is vital that you have all your wishes in writing and that they can be easily retrieved at any time.
Put together a folder of all essential documents that relate to your end-of-life care. At a minimum, this should include your will, any DNR’s, hospice wishes, and letters for your loved ones.
Make sure this folder is labeled so that another person can easily retrieve it if need be.
Share Your Wishes
Finally, make sure you have the difficult conversations that let people know what you want to happen at the end of your life.
You need to have a select group of people that can advocate for you in times of difficulty and know in advance how you wish to be treated.
While you’re talking about your own end-of-life plans, why not also find out what your loved ones wish for their end-of-life care?
End-of-Life Decisions Made Easier
That’s a brief guide on how to make end-of-life decisions; no one wants to think about these things, but a proactive attitude can make all the difference.
Being prepared for what you’ll do if things go wrong can be the difference between a painful passing or getting to enjoy your last days with your loved ones.
Did you find this article helpful? If so, make sure to check out our other posts for more informative health, lifestyle, and finance topics.
