The majority of people are so afraid of death that they are unprepared for their own death, and the deaths of loved ones. Most people don’t know how to even begin planning for the type of healthcare they would want when approaching the end of life. In addition, people don’t think about the financial and legal implications of their own end of life for loved ones, so many of the legal preparations are tossed to the side. Emotionally, it’s very difficult to prepare for the death of a loved one which can make grieving more difficult when the person passes.
So what can you do to help prepare for your death, or help a loved one prepare for theirs?
Talk about death and dying! As painful as this subject can be, simply having a conversation to learn a loved one’s wishes or have your loved ones learn yours. Once your wishes have been discussed with caregivers and loved ones, you can work to get the legal, financial, and healthcare documents in place to help make things a little easier for when you pass.
Hospice can help! St. Anthony’s Hospice has incredible Social Workers who can help patients get those documents in place, assist with funeral plans, and be sure your needs are met, from a psychosocial standpoint. Even in St. Anthony’s Palliative Care, we work to ensure your advance directives are in place and help with difficult conversations surrounding end of life between patients and their loved ones.
Check out this article from the Washington Post on “Are You Prepared to Die?…” This article details one man’s journey to death preparation through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Or if you have a shorter attention span, or just like videos, HospiceNurseJulie on TikTok does a phenomenal job explaining the different topics surrounding death & dying. Check out her profile here.
If you or a loved one is in need of hospice or palliative care, please call us at (270) 826-2326 or make an online referral.
