After working with elderly clients and families for several years I have found that end-of-life planning is one of the most challenging topics of conversation. Facing one\u2019s own mortality is daunting. Not knowing how someone has been affected by death and loss in their life makes discussing their end even more complicated. However, having the conversations and putting plans in place while healthy gives one control over their end and reduces the burden on the grieving loved ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Talking about death and funeral planning is best when done early, calmly, and incrementally. The topic can be introduced after watching a movie where a funeral was central, or even after attending or hearing about the funeral of a friend or acquaintance. It may help to share your own wishes for end-of-life plans by saying \u201cI think I\u2019d like to be cremated\/buried when I die. What do you think you would want?\u201d Another way to introduce the topic is to stress that you want to honor your loved one\u2019s wishes but need to know what they want in order to do so. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once your loved one has\u00a0identified\u00a0how they want their body treated after death, itis important to talk about how they want to be remembered. Asking about family traditions, other\u00a0funerals\u00a0or memorials,\u00a0or even how they picture\u00a0remembering\u00a0them can help.\u00a0f you\u2019re not comfortable talking about this yourself, our team can help guide the conversation and make it easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My own family was reserved when talking about important topics but surprisingly open about how they wanted to be memorialized. An uncle requested a cocktail party with no religious service or prayers, and a burial on the family cemetery plot. My father wanted a lunch at his favorite local restaurant and no burial. And my mother wanted a memorial service with her grandchildren providing music and for her ashes to be \u201cscattered to the wind.\u201d Although planning was involved in all three scenarios, knowing their wishes was the first step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My father always\u00a0said, \u201cdeath is\u00a0part of life.\u201d\u00a0Viewing end- of-life as a natural transition and talking about\u00a0it openly can take some of the\u00a0sting\u00a0out of something that has long been\u00a0a taboo topic.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just my two cents, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Penny <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After working with elderly clients and families for several years I have found that end-of-life planning is one of the most challenging topics of conversation. Facing one\u2019s own mortality is daunting. Not knowing how someone has been affected by death and loss in their life makes discussing their end even more complicated. However, having the conversations and putting plans in place while healthy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[75,73],"class_list":{"0":"post-364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-other","7":"tag-care-manager","8":"tag-senior-health","9":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\n