End of Life Issues

Death is a part of life...but talking about it isn't!

That's because most people are too afraid to talk (or even think) about what will happen when they or a loved one dies. But avoiding the topic will not prevent death from happening nor ease the pain that is associated with loss.

Many people avoid talking about end of life because of their fears: separation from loved ones, suffering, pain, and the unknown. These fears prevent them from dealing with life's final lesson and make it harder to evaluated and plan their lives as they wish. Facing your fears is the first step towards planning for the future.

Now is the time to take control over your final days - before illness happens. Talking and planning for death is the best way to ensure that your wishes will be fulfilled and that you will be able to live your life to the fullest until the end.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT ??

Most of us hope that we will die quickly, but the fact is that many of us will die after a long, slow decline. It is for this reason that talking and planning for your death is so important to your well-being and your loved one's peace of mind. Making decisions about how you want to spend your final days is not simple. There are many factors and options available today that may influence your care at the end of life. Where do I want to die? Who will take care of me? What do I have to do to achieve a "good death" ? These questions raise just a few of the points to be considered in deciding your care at the end of life.

Another focus is on what kind of treatment you want during your final days. While some of the issues related to end-of-life care haven't changed for generations, new ones are making decisions even more challenging. Also, the health care arena has been changing so quickly that there are new medical technologies and treatments that can extend your life will beyond its natural course.

When you were born your parents spent months preparing for your birth. This same kind of planning should be applied at the end of life. Talking and planning for death are the very acts that may allow you to live a fuller and more comfortable life in your final days.

Our society has a difficult time dealing with end of life issues. We think that we will never be old, and often tend to put off documenting our wishes. Without the proper forms in place, our wishes will not be known, and someone else may make decisions that we did not desire.

ADVANCE DIRECTIVES: are formal documents that explicitly describe your wishes for care near the end of life. There are two kinds of advance directives:

A Living Will: The Living Will is a statement to your physician. This is a document in which you specify your wishes regarding medical treatment, generally the refusal of life-prolonging treatment when death is imminent.

A Health Care Power of Attorney: This document allows you to appoint someone you trust to act on your behalf and make decisions regarding your medical treatment if you are unable to do so, or are declared incompetent by a court of law. This document must be "activated" in order for your agent to make decisions.

These documents can be found on the following website: