© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions
This month, we're recognising the upcoming 8th annual 'Dying To Know Day' (D2KDay), an Australian initiative dedicated to encouraging conversations about death, dying and bereavement.
Attitudes towards preparing for death have changed throughout the course of human history. With our better quality of living, medical advances and move away from spirituality, modern Western society tends to ignore or even fear death.
We see death, not as a part of life, but as something 'over there', to be forgotten until it reaches out and takes us. This separation of death from the circle of life leaves us floundering when death does reach out and take us or a loved one.
If you or a loved one receive a diagnosis of terminal illness, severe cognitive or physical decline, the best way to reduce the distress and anxiety of the coming journey is to start preparing an ‘end of life’ plan.
The simple act of making a plan dampens anxiety and gives a degree of structure at a time when life appears to be out of control. Making a plan will see you regain some control and give comfort that your wishes are followed.
According to Grattan Institute research[1] conducted in 2014, most Australians appear to have lost control of their final wishes for lack of preparation. It found that:
Getting your affairs in order covers all areas of your life including your legal and estate planning requirements, your financial requirements and investments, your family, friends and spiritual requirements.
The most logical starting point is getting the paperwork done. This means drawing up a Will, an Enduring Power of Attorney, an Enduring Guardianship and an Advanced Health Directive. For more information, take a look at this prior blog on preparing your essential legal documents and estate planning.
The next step is to think about and plan the coming journey. Consider the following:
In your plan, consider listing your personal preferences such as:
Voice your wishes on death, including whether you’d like:
Choose a funeral director. Provide them with an update on your health and ask them for a checklist of things you need to do in advance.
Document your thoughts and actions on the points listed into an ‘end of life’ plan and share it with those closest to you including your Power of Attorney(s) and your Enduring Guardian(s). This will help ensure your end of life is comfortable and dignified, and as you wished it to be.
If you're looking for additional support or guidance on planning care for the end of life, feel free to contact me, Danielle Robertson at DR Care Solutions, for an initial discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance at the right time and in the right place.
[1] Grattan Institute: Dying Well