To make sure that your own wishes will be honored at the end of life, we encourage you to:
- Determine the end-of-life care options available to you
- Decide for yourself what kind of care you would want
- Discuss your end-of-life wishes with loved ones and your physician
- Document so it’s clear for all to see
Many people find it hard to talk about these topics, but have strong opinions about how they would want to be treated. Early planning is the kindest thing you can do for yourself, your family and friends.
There are numerous resources available on the Internet to assist families in discussing and documenting their preferences regarding end-of-life care, and even repositories for storing such documents online. The website of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), for example, offers information about advance directives and living wills as well as practical advice and assistance to help you talk about your preferences regarding end-of-life care.
NHPCO’s consumer-focused website, Caring Connections, at www.caringinfo.org, provides a wide range of free materials about end-of-life care. For more information on advance care planning and advance directives, call them at 1-800-658-8898.