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Communicating End-of-Life Wishes

Communicating End-of-Life Wishes. End of Life Coalition of Roseburg November 2005. 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

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Communicating End-of-Life Wishes

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  1. Communicating End-of-Life Wishes End of Life Coalition of Roseburg November 2005

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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?

  5. 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

  6. Conversation Triggers • Family gatherings • Death of friend or colleague • Newspaper & magazine articles • Movies & books • Sermons • TV talk shows • Financial planning • Medical checkups

  7. 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

  8. Step 1: Introduce the Conversation • Timing is everything! • Private, comfortable place • Begin with a conversation trigger • Importance of expressing end-of-life wishes

  9. 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

  10. 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?

  11. 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

  12. Resources in Our Community • End of Life Coalition of Roseburg • Douglas Home Care and Hospice • Mercy Home Health and Hospice • Senior Advocacy: H. Gandy Attorney • Senior Services/Senior Companions: Douglas County Health Department • Ministerial Association of Roseburg

  13. www.caringinfo.org800.658.8898

  14. FREE Resources Available from Caring Connections • State-specific advance directives • Advance care planning Web resources • Brochures to download or order: • Conversations Before the Crisis • Ask Tough Questions • Advance Directives and End-of-Life Decisions • Health Care Agents: Appointing One & Being One • You Have Filled Out Your Advance Directive… Now What?

  15. 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

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