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Communicating End-of-Life Wishes
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Planning Ahead:
Communicating
End-of-Life Wishes
(Add your organization’s name and
contact information here)
Purpose
• 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 important?
• 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 hard?
• 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…
• 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 Triggers
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Family gatherings
Death of friend or colleague
Newspaper & magazine articles
Movies & books
Sermons
TV talk shows
Financial planning
Medical checkups
How 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 the Conversation
• Timing is everything!
• Private, comfortable place
• Begin with a conversation trigger
• Importance of expressing end-oflife wishes
Step 2: Explore Personal Beliefs
and Values
• Engage in a conversation about
beliefs and values:
- Happiness
- Challenging Times
- Spirituality
- Family/Growing Up
- Personal Values
- Lifetime Legacies
Step 3: Define End-of-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 Wishes
• Complete your Advance Directives
- Living Will
- Health Care Power of Attorney
• Inform others
- Health care professionals, physician
- Family members, friends, self
Resources in Our Community
www.caringinfo.org • 800-658-8898
FREE Resources Available
from Caring Connections
• State-specific advance directives
• ‘Planning Ahead’ Web information
• Brochures to download or order:
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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?
It’s About How You LIVE!
Learn about your options, choices and
decisions
Implement your advance directive plans
Voice your end-of-life wishes
Engage others to talk about their wishes