Have you had THE conversation?
You know, THE conversation about what you would like the end of your life to look like and what you want to happen after you die?
Doing so does not mean you have a death wish. Doing so means that you want to have some say in hopefully how that all happens.
According to The Groundswell Project,
- 75% have not had end of life discussions
- 60% think we don’t talk about death enough
- 45% die without a will
- Over 70% of us die in hospital though most of us would prefer to die at home
- Very few of us die with an Advance Care plan (less than 10 percent)
- The number of Australians aged 65 and over will double by 2050 increasing our need to plan well and share our wishes with our loved ones
These statistics are just plain scary when you consider that every single one of us will physically die at some point in time. As part of end of life discussions, the following things need to be taken into consideration :
- Your position on organ donation
- Do you wish to be buried or cremated?
- Where do you wish to be buried or have your ashes placed/scattered?
- Are there minor children in your life whose care needs to be addressed?
Have you even thought about some of these things? I would venture to say that these are possibly some of the most serious things in life we need to consider if we want our wishes addressed. Do you put more planning into your next night out or holiday than you have to your end of life thoughts?
These things are not just to be considered by those facing a terminal illness, or the aged. They are things for each and every single one of us to consider. And it doesn’t need to be a depressing or sad conversation. It can be a conversation that includes much humour, but also provide a way to connect more deeply with your loved ones.
Addressing these issues and communicating our wishes not only gives you a sense of peace, it can make things so very much easier for the loved ones you leave behind.
With love & peace, Sharon