Now you’re probably thinking, ‘did what?’ If I had entitled this article, “The Most Important Conversation You’ll Ever Have,” you’d probably be in the ‘Wish I Had’ group and not bother finishing it. So now that I have your attention, I hope you will continue reading, and be ‘Glad You Did’!
As an RN and Elder Care Coordinator (ECC), it saddens me to witness families agonize over issues that should have been discussed and decided upon long ago, before the illness set in and mental capacity diminished.
I recently went to visit a family whose mother was in ICU; she was intubated, unresponsive, and very weak; the expected outcome not good. This was a new client who had not made any definitive decisions before she lost mental capacity, and the person who had the right to make decisions for her was unable to do so for fear of upsetting other family members. Had this client had a conversation with her family before becoming ill, and put her wishes in writing, there would be no burden of decisions to be made; only wishes to be carried out.
Statistics show more than 90 percent of people believe it’s important to discuss end-of-life care, but less than 30 percent actually do. Not burdening the family is extremely important to most people; however their wishes are rarely communicated in writing (23 percent), so decisions are left to be made by those unprepared to do so.
I would ask that you share what matters to you at the end of life with a loved one. This can be talked about over coffee, or on a drive; it doesn’t have to be formal until you choose to make it so. The important thing is to make your wishes known, and then move forward with putting it in writing so they are carried out. You’ll be ‘Glad You Did!’
At the Law Office of Jane M. McNamara, you will encounter a team that operates with excellence, heart and expertise in the area of Elder Law. Our goal is to reduce anxiety, frustration, confusion, and fear and provide you with the legal and medical documents necessary to ensure quality of life and well-being for the remainder of your years.
For more information, please visit www.JaneMcNamara.com or call 661-287-3260 for an appointment.