I am hoping you're doing well and enjoying the unfolding spring season. Once again, I encourage you to take a deep breath, pour a cup of coffee or hot tea, and relax.
Delay! I know what you are thinking. This is NOT a thing you need to consider. Medical care options and end-of-life decisions are charged and daunting, to say the least. But if we re-frame the dialogue, perhaps you will be more inclined to embrace the planning process.
Instead of thinking about various departure scenarios, think about the endless options for LIFE! Planning for LIFE is a productive and much more appealing approach. How do you want to LIVE before the end of the road? You should plan well, to ensure that your wishes become your reality.
Without exception, the biggest challenge was enticing individuals to attend. Many people just do not need to "go there." It's projected that only 25-30% of individuals in the USA have completed advance directives. There are quite a lot of factors contributing to our unwillingness to strategy: lack of knowledge, insufficient urgency, anxiety about dying and death, doubt of medical systems, ethnic incompatibility, mental distress, and family dissension. But if we fail to state our tastes associated with medical care and end-of-life care, we relinquish control and frequently unduly burden relatives and buddies. A distressing situation for all concerned.
Thus, we need to Strategy for LIFE. Step one in the planning process is to "know thyself." Identify your wishes for LIFE. Take some time to consider your values, priorities, and preferences in life. Consider the following questions in relationship to some health care crisis or to advanced age:
Just how do you want to LIVE (define an acceptable quality of LIFE)? For example:
-- Physically active
-- Emotionally astute
-- Capable of conveying
What are your hopes? For example:
-- Remain at home
-- Be surrounded by friends as well as family
-- Retain a feeling of control
-- Be treated with dignity and respect
-- Experience good-handled symptoms and pain
What are your fears? For example:
-- Loss of relationships
-- Decline of significance and function
-- Fiscal ruin
-- Being a weight
The second step in the preparation process is critically important--discussing your Strategy for LIFE with family and friends. I can not stress this enough! Relatives and buddies need to listen to your LIFE wishes. Having THE conversation with loved ones affords the opportunity answer questions to articulate your tastes, and discuss matters. Additionally, your readiness to "go there" may encourage others to follow in your footsteps. A great thing really! Ask us about a number of the fabulous online resources to help in kick starting THE dialog.
Finally, document your Strategy for LIFE. Advance directives consist of a number of legal forms including: living will, CPR directive, Medical Durable Power of Attorney, MOST, POLST, 5 Wishes, etc. It's important to determine the lawfully accepted and required documentation as mandated. If needed, seek legal counsel.
In case you are still reluctant to "go there," let me say one more thing. Advance directives are NOT all about YOU! Investing attention and time to create An Agenda for LIFE results in among the greatest gifts you can offer friends and your family. A well-imagined Plan for LIFE advise and will guide those who care at the conclusion of the road for you personally --mitigating some of angst and the inescapable uncertainty. For me, that's motivation enough to Plan for LIFE! I hope it inspires you as well.
I'd love to hear from you, when you have concerns or specific questions related to your caregiving experience. Until the next posting, I wish you and yours countless approvals.
Senior Home Care
