Good Mournings

Less than half of adults have a will in place and even fewer have set up advanced directives. A will dictates what happens after you die with your possessions; advanced directives dictate your wishes for end-of-life care.Having end of life documentation in place ensures your wishes will be honored, and it takes 3 basic steps. The first is knowing what you want. How you want to be remembered, to be cared for, and what you want done with your remains and possessions, are the basics of what to consider. This step should take some introspection and research. The second step is to have conversations with those you want, and need involved. This can be a difficult step but start the conversation and keep having it. Its difficult to think about dying, or think about living without someone, but these conversations are vital. The final step is to document. Put your financial and medical POAs in place, document your advanced directives, write up a will, and draft a trust if needed. Documentation is a gift to all involved. If you aren't sure where to start, talk to an end-of-life doula, doctor, or elder law attorney.  Editors Note: This article was submitted by Lucy Crandall, End of Life Doula and owner of Good Mournings. She can be reached at 719-61-6850

Death is scary. Talking about death isnt easy. Most people want to fight death and extend their life as long as possible, and not mention it. But no matter what we do, the result will be the same, we will die. But its ok to talk about it, to plan for it, and to embrace it. And an End-of-Life Doula can be a helpful guide in making your final journey what you want it to be.Amongst a growing movement to normalize death, End of Life Doulas have emerged to help fill a need by providing professional guidance, resources, and a compassionate hand during this often-difficult time. Among many other things, a doula can help with planning; understanding the dying process; and assisting the family through grief. Through conversations, a doula can help the dying find meaning in their life through their legacies and can help with logistics and arrangements.  When the dying process begins, doulas can ensure that final wishes are being honored and can offer education to those involved about the dying process. Many doulas may be able to sit bedside for some of the final vigil to offer needed breaks for family members. After the passing, doulas can continue to offer support to families as they grieve.Talking about death will not speed up the process, but it might just help make it more comfortable and meaningful. Give it a try! Editors Note: This article was written by Lucy Crandall, an End-of-Life Doula. She can be reached at 719-641-6850 or at Lucy@goodmourningsco.com