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Planning Ahead: Planning Ahead: Communicating End-of-Communicating End-of-Life WishesLife Wishes• This presentation is intended as a
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Planning Ahead: Planning Ahead: Communicating Communicating End-of-Life WishesEnd-of-Life Wishes
(Add your organization’s name and contact information here)
PurposePurpose
• Discover the value of talking about your end-of-life wishes
• Learn how to communicate your end-of-life wishes
• Use strategies to clarify and express your wishes
• Help others clarify and express their wishes
Why is talking so Why is talking so importantimportant??
• Conversations before the ‘crisis’ allow time for honest discussion, reflection and planning
• Opportunity to discover important information about yourself and your loved ones
• Most important gift you can give to prepare for end of life
Why is talking so Why is talking so hardhard??
• How do you feel about choices and care around the end of life?
• What do you want?
• What are you worried about?
• Who will make your decisions for you if you are unable?
Interesting to note…Interesting to note…
• Most Americans – 88 percent – feel comfortable discussing issues relating to death and dying*
• Yet…how many of you have had a discussion with your family, a friend, your doctor, or a clergy about YOUR end-of-life wishes?
* National Survey on Death, Dying, and Hospice Care in America, VITAS Innovative Healthcare, 2004
Conversation Conversation TriggersTriggers• Family gatherings• Death of friend or colleague• Newspaper & magazine articles• Movies & books• Sermons• TV talk shows• Financial planning• Medical checkups
How To CommunicateHow To Communicate
• Step 1: Introduce the conversation
• Step 2: Explore personal beliefs and values
• Step 3: Define end-of-life wishes
• Step 4: Document wishes
Step 1: Introduce Step 1: Introduce the Conversationthe Conversation
• Timing is everything!
• Private, comfortable place
• Begin with a conversation trigger
• Importance of expressing end-of-life wishes
Step 2: Explore Step 2: Explore Personal Beliefs and Personal Beliefs and ValuesValues• Engage in a conversation about
beliefs and values:- Happiness- Challenging Times- Spirituality- Family/Growing Up- Personal Values- Lifetime Legacies
Step 3: Define End-Step 3: Define End-of-Life Wishesof-Life Wishes
• Beliefs– How do you want to prepare for death?– What would help you cope?
• Choices– Where do you want to spend your last
days?– Who do you want near you?– What kind of medical care do you want?
Step 4: Document Step 4: Document WishesWishes
• Complete your Advance Directives
- Living Will
- Health Care Power of Attorney
• Inform others
- Health care professionals, physician
- Family members, friends, self
FREE Resources FREE Resources Available Available from from Caring Caring ConnectionsConnections
• State-specific advance directives• ‘Planning Ahead’ Web information• Brochures to download or order:
– Conversations Before the Crisis – Ask Tough Questions– End-of-Life Decisions– Communicating End-of-Life Wishes– You Have Filled Out Your Advance
Directive… Now What?