Why Start Planning for End Of Life Now ?

• July 18, 2015
• Donna Hines
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Why now start planning for my end of life now? you may ask.

What better time for me?  My 60th birthday is on the horizon and is just a few weeks away.  As I look ahead to my 6th decade I can’t help but feel it will be my decade of major changes.  Factors include income, health,  living arrangements and foremost in my mind lies the question “just how many good years do I have left”?  Milestones of 30, 40 and then 50 were met with little introspection.

As silly as it may sound I did not connect those numbers to the reality that 1/2 my life was over and moving forward meant less time left.  Perhaps it was immaturity on my part or just flat out denial in my consciousness that at some point ahead life ends.  With age,  health declines and the quality of life diminishes.   Now,  my consciousness has fully accepted that my death is absolute and my declining health with age is most likely to occur.   What becomes of me when these events occur?  What impact will it have on my love ones?

Make a Plan

What life has shown me to-date is that it is better to have a plan than not.  Both my husband and I were beneficiaries of  good, solid, well thought out plans that our mothers (having survived their husbands) had made before they became ill, and long before death was upon them.  They each prepared living wills (end-of-life medical directives to physicians and care givers)  in addition to their final wills.  These documents were invaluable in administering their care when both became terminally ill. Having these documents in place  prevented emotional conflict and guess work and minimized fighting amongst family members when handling their affairs.  

My husband and I were born into families with 6 children each.  Each of our siblings were married.  So in each instance there were at least 12 adults sitting at the table.  Imagine the chaos (the  high emotions of such a group of sorrowful mournful souls, each with their own views of how things should be handled) if there was no plan in place?  Honoring the wishes and desires  expressed in writing by the the deceased prevents so much heartache and conflict to those you love and leave behind.  I’m thinking what a lovely final gift our mothers gave to us.  I’m writing my plan today to give my loved ones the same loving final gift. 

So, in answering the question ,”Why now”?, the best answer I offer is “Why not now”?  Make your plan now.