{"id":10296,"date":"2016-10-31T07:00:45","date_gmt":"2016-10-31T12:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=10296"},"modified":"2020-10-14T08:51:59","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T13:51:59","slug":"how-to-start-a-family-conversation-about-end-of-life-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2016\/10\/how-to-start-a-family-conversation-about-end-of-life-care\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start a Family Conversation about End-of-life Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to Start a Family Conversation about End-of-\"Howlife Care<\/h1>\n

There aren\u2019t many topics harder to bring up than the prospect of death. Maybe that\u2019s why at the end of life, many families have to make care decisions for loved ones without knowing what they would have wanted. Being forced to improvise can shift the family\u2019s focus from saying goodbye to managing conflicts and dealing with confusion. Experts say it\u2019s better to talk early and often about your wishes, and there are resources you can use to start a family conversation about end-of-life care.<\/p>\n

Breaking the taboo on talking about end-of-life issues<\/h2>\n

Journalist and commentator Ellen Goodman started The Conversation Project<\/a><\/strong> to help families with end-of-life care planning after caring for her aging mother. Her mother had said she didn\u2019t want to be stuck on life support, but her situation played out very differently. During her mother\u2019s years-long decline, Goodman had to choose everything from meals to medical treatments without knowing if she was honoring her mother\u2019s wishes.<\/p>\n

That experience is common. A Conversation Project survey found that although nine out of 10 adults said it was important to talk with their loved ones about end-of-life care wishes, fewer than three of 10 had done so. To make it easier, the group has created several starter kits that you can use to organize your own thoughts, share your wishes with your adult children, or find out how best to care for your aging parents.<\/p>\n

Help for families with end-of-life care responsibilities<\/h2>\n

The Conversation Project Starter Kit<\/a><\/strong> is available in eight languages. There\u2019s a separate starter kit for families dealing with dementia and a guide to talking to your doctor. The kits help you think about what you want for yourself and help you start a discussion with your parents about what they want for themselves.<\/p>\n

For instance, do your parents want to stay at home as long as possible? If so, do you know what in-home care resources<\/a><\/strong> are available in their area? Would they prefer to move to a nursing home<\/a><\/strong> if their health and mobility reach a certain point? Are there certain healthcare procedures they want and others they wish to refuse? When do they consider hospice an option? Who do they want involved in their care?<\/p>\n

Tips for talking about end-of-life issues<\/h2>\n

Educate yourself about Medicare coverage for end-of-life care<\/a><\/strong> and hospice care options<\/a> <\/strong>so you\u2019ll know what resources are available to you and your family. Also:<\/p>\n