As loved ones age, having the discussion on dignified aging and a living will can be challenging and emotional for families. Considering that spring is arriving and it appears the world may be opening up a bit more (hopefully), families will start reconnecting, spending quality time together, and planning vacations.
Since the start of the pandemic, many families forewent these gatherings in an effort to avoid unnecessarily exposing themselves or loved ones to COVID-19. However, since late 2021 and increasingly so, families are spending more time together. Considering how long it’s been since these families have sat together, this may be an ideal time to have a conversation many avoid, for any number of reasons: end of life.
Nationally, 30% of adults have a living will/advance directive detailing their wishes in an end-of-life situation if they are unable to communicate those wishes themselves. La Cross Wisconsin—dubbed the “Town Where Everyone Talks About Death”—boasts a 96% rate. Why? Because people talk about it.
The concept started with a local medical ethicist, Bud Hammes. After years of counseling families of patients nearing death who were unable to communicate and engage in excruciating conversations about end of life, Hammes had an idea. He began training nurses to ask ahead of time whether a patient wished to complete an advance directive, detailing the patient’s wishes, rather than leaving the choices to the family during a crisis, and often after it becomes too late for the individual to participate.
I acknowledge some may consider this a morbid topic—but with families gathering, there may be no better time to have this discussion. Between religious, cultural, personal, and political beliefs, it is increasingly difficult to presume the wishes of a loved one, no matter how long you may know each other. Having this conversation and following it with appropriate legal documents formalizing these wishes creates the opportunity for loved ones to have a voice but, most importantly, gives the individual a voice when they can no longer speak for themselves.
The elder care law attorneys and care advocates at Rothkoff Law Group routinely facilitate end-of-life discussions and advocate for care support to assure quality and dignified end of life. Contact us today if you or a loved one is in need of assistance with a living will or life care planning services.
