End-of-Life Planning

“We must practice the art of dying so that when our death is upon us, we will not be afraid, but recognize it as the most loving thing there is–and fall into it completely.”
–Rev. Olivia Bareham

The best time to decide what type of care you want for when you are incapacitated is WHEN YOU ARE HEALTHY!  

End-of-Life Planning is the comprehensive organization of your dying wishes.  Thinking about everything while you are calm and clear-minded provides peace to you and your loved ones.  Close the gaps between what you want to happen and what will happen upon your incapacitation or death. Have a “better death” by having a clear plan. Having your affairs in order helps dissipate fear of dying.

Decide what treatment and care you want when you are no longer able to speak for yourself. Consider personal beliefs on spirituality and death.  
Designate your medical proxy to act on your behalf.
Write your own obituary! Who knows you better than you? Decide what you want included or excluded and where to share it.
Reduce the burden on your loved ones by clearly communicating your wishes.
Reduce the risk of conflict between your loved ones and/or medical providers.

Have the opportunity, before it’s too late, to say goodbye or face regrets.
Set a plan in place so your loved ones know exactly what you want upon your incapacitation and death.

END-OF-LIFE PLANNING consists of understanding all available options and costs. Are the necessary documents completed and signed so that your desires will be met?  Does your family know where all your important documents are?  I have an in-depth form to organize your life, so that upon your incapacitation or death, your family isn’t left confused or fearful.  You can ensure in advance that your bills can be paid, and your family can begin grieving rather than worrying about anything. Designate your wishes for your children, pets, household, heirlooms, property disposition, funeral, burial/body disposition, and more. You have the power to decide ahead of time!

FORMS: Do you have a Living Will or Advanced Care Directive (ACD)? Do you have a medical proxy? Are your financial, home, and insurance documents easy to find? I will assist in the completion of necessary forms or review already prepared documents.

NOTIFICATION/OBITUARY: Grief is overwhelming.  There are so many notifications to be made.  Let me lift that burden by doing it for your loved ones.  You provide a list of relatives, coworkers, creditors, lenders, medical providers, etc.  Obituaries are often the final official remembrance so they should be written with compassion and care.  Most often, the funeral home is responsible for obits.  Let me write an honorable tribute on your behalf.  I’ll also create a memorial copy for your designated loved one, complete with a memento or photograph.

All planning services include a mourning session. I will be available to designated loved ones post-death to answer any questions and to provide loving support through a variety of means. 

Pre-planning frees you to live more fully, knowing you will be taken care of exactly how you wish. Enjoy every moment of your life!