“Everyone
has got to die, but I always thought an exception would be made in my case." Author,
William Saroyan, on his deathbed.

 The
majority of us are not comfortable having conversations about the prospect of
end of life. Why is talking about care in the final stage of life so difficult? Perhaps, on an unconscious level we
think that if we ignore death, it will go away, or worse, if we do talk about
it we might jinx ourselves and bring it on.

In 2011,
people living in California were surveyed and the results were astonishing.

 Sixty percent say that making sure their families are not burdened by tough decisions about their care is "extremely important. However, 56% of Californians have not communicated their end-of-life wishes to the loved one they would want making decisions on their behalf.

 While a large majority of Californians (82%) say it is important to have end-of-life wishes in writing, only 23% say they have done so.

 Almost 80% say they definitely or probably would like to talk with a doctor about end-of-life care, but only 7% have had a doctor speak with them about it.  

Read more: http://www.chcf.org/publications/2012/02/final-chapter-death-dying#ixzz2VdVg3Zjf

 How can take the fear out of this and
begin to have rich and meaningful conversations with those we care about and
those we care for? How can we begin to normalize the experience of approaching
difficult subjects? The California Conversation Project’s website has some
helpful tools that easily walk you through the process. http://theconversationproject.org/starter-kit/intro/

 It is important to recognize that
these conversations need to happen long before we are ill. Whether we are young
or old we need to begin the conversation, make our wishes known and write them
down. In healthcare we need to develop a comfort level in talking with people
about their wishes so that we can honor them.

 I invite you to watch this video of the
Jennings multigenerational family who gathered together to begin the conversation. This
was the catalyst I needed to complete my own advance directive. 

I hope you will gift your family and begin the
conversation with your loved ones.

~liz Sorensen Wessel