I thought about titling this post “We Are All Going To Die”… We can’t change whether or not we are going to die. We all are. Putting off talking about it or planning for it won’t make it not happen, but it could make it more confusing and painful for your loved ones. Seth Godin… Continue Reading
Category Archives: End of Life Planning
Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (MOLST) v. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)
Massachusetts has a few forms that people need to be aware of that affect their health care and the treatment that they want. When to use the forms can be confusing. Below is a summary of each one and when you would want to consider filling it out. A health care proxy is a form… Continue Reading
Leaving A Memo or Letter With Your Will
Your Will is the place where you distribute certain types of property after your death. Anything that has a joint owner (like a house or a bank account) or a named beneficiary (like a retirement plan or insurance policy) will pass to the joint owner or beneficiary upon your death. Your other property is distributed… Continue Reading
End of Life Conversations Will Result In Your Death – 100% of the Time
Everyone is going to die. All of us. Some will die when we are young, some when we are old. Some will die a quick death, and others will linger while those around us try to figure out what to do. (I know, I don’t like it either.) So, when the discussions about the Medicare… Continue Reading
Helping Your Health Care Proxy
April is Health Care Decisions month, the month when you are supposed to sign health care proxies and talk to your family about your “end of life wishes.” I know many people will sign health care proxies, but I wonder how many will take that next step to communicate their wishes to their families, or… Continue Reading
Living Wills for Children, or “I Want My Pepsi Now”
Many many years ago, before I was born, a beloved young cousin in my family was sick, and dying of leukemia. Towards the end of his life, there was a sign above his bed that said "nothing by mouth," meaning he should not have anything to eat or drink as he was getting his nutrition… Continue Reading
What to Do When You Can’t Decide
I sometimes have clients who have trouble making decisions – they can't decide who should be guardian of their children, they can't decide who to appoint as agent under a power of attorney, and they can't decide exactly how to distribute their property when they pass away. And so they do nothing. Maybe they call… Continue Reading
Starting the Conversation About End of Life Care
Families are often hesitant to talk about end of life wishes. Maybe they are uncomfortable bringing it up, maybe they are afraid of the reaction of others, or maybe they think everyone would know what to do so there's no need to discuss it. But if it feels uncomfortable now – when there is no… Continue Reading
In the Nursing Home, by Jane Kenyon
In the Nursing Home She is like a horse grazinga hill pasture that someone makessmaller by coming every nightto pull the fences in and in. She has stopped running wide loops,stopped even the tight circles.She drops her head to feed; grassis dust, and the creekbed’s dry. Master, come with your lighthalter. Come and bring her… Continue Reading
Planning Your Funeral On-Line
You can do everything else on-line these days – shop, communicate with friends and strangers, read the news, pay your bills, find a mate – and now you can plan your funeral on-line with MyWonderfulLife. As the site explains: Whether you want a completely customized event, or a traditional funeral, we make it easy to… Continue Reading