{"id":1463,"date":"2023-09-18T21:57:38","date_gmt":"2023-09-18T21:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/?page_id=1463"},"modified":"2026-09-29T22:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T22:41:14","slug":"planning","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/planning\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"1463\" class=\"elementor elementor-1463\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-15dbb6b elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"15dbb6b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d66a4a\" data-id=\"3d66a4a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1cb0773 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1cb0773\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">planning for a good death<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81e21ae elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"81e21ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon elementor-divider__element\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-square\"><\/i><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59e6676f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59e6676f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-597b4ff9\" data-id=\"597b4ff9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4c5f1301 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4c5f1301\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong data-start=\"755\" data-end=\"895\">\u201cPlanning for the end of life is not about predicting the future. It is about making your wishes known <\/strong><strong data-start=\"755\" data-end=\"895\">while they are yours to express.\u201d<\/strong><br data-start=\"895\" data-end=\"898\" \/>\u2014 Final Exodus<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-24feb75 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"24feb75\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e218499\" data-id=\"e218499\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e2f854 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"5e2f854\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"gInfo\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fdfc4c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fdfc4c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">\nStep 1. Learn about your options<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ae216d elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"6ae216d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32a7e06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32a7e06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"553\">Begin by learning about the end-of-life choices and planning tools available to you. Explore this website at your own pace, and visit our <strong data-start=\"490\" data-end=\"503\">Resources<\/strong> section for additional information and materials.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"553\">Learn about advanced care options that might include palliative care or hospice care, dementia planning, medical aid in dying (MAiD), and other end-of-life considerations.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"555\" data-end=\"794\">If you&#8217;re unsure where to begin, the <a href=\"https:\/\/codaalliance.org\/go-wish\/\"><strong data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"609\">Go Wish Cards<\/strong><\/a> can help you identify and think about what matters most to you when considering future health care and end-of-life wishes. The cards are available both online and in a printed version.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"1014\">As you learn, consider your own wishes, values, and priorities. <strong data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"1014\">What matters most to you? What would you want the people closest to you to understand about the care you would\u2014or would not\u2014want near the end of life?<\/strong><\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1016\" data-end=\"1117\">These thoughts can become the foundation for the conversations and advance care planning that follow. Remember: <strong>Your life.<\/strong> <strong>Your wishes. Your plan.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2514bdc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2514bdc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d43353a\" data-id=\"d43353a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ea6e92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"3ea6e92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"conv\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-945c858 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"945c858\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 2.  HAVE The CONVERSATION<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a4587d elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1a4587d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff50c55 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff50c55\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"388\" data-end=\"652\">End-of-life planning is deeply personal, but it does not have to be explored alone. Talking with people you trust can help you clarify what matters most to you\u2014and help those closest to you understand your wishes before they are ever asked to speak on your behalf.<\/p><h3 dir=\"auto\" data-section-id=\"19bybr9\" data-start=\"577\" data-end=\"609\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\" data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"981\">Who might you talk with?<\/span><\/strong><\/h3><ul data-start=\"611\" data-end=\"780\"><li data-section-id=\"dyhk8r\" data-start=\"611\" data-end=\"652\">Your spouse or partner, if you have one<\/li><li data-section-id=\"xelu8\" data-start=\"653\" data-end=\"688\">Your children or other loved ones<\/li><li data-section-id=\"hllu33\" data-start=\"689\" data-end=\"717\">A close or longtime friend<\/li><li data-section-id=\"f1tg2p\" data-start=\"718\" data-end=\"780\">Anyone you trust to listen thoughtfully and without judgment<\/li><\/ul><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"981\"><strong data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"981\">What should you talk about?<\/strong><\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"983\" data-end=\"1194\">Talk about what matters to you. Share what you have learned, what you value, what concerns you, and what you would\u2014or would not\u2014want if you could no longer make or communicate health care decisions for yourself.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1196\" data-end=\"1387\">You might talk about what <strong data-start=\"1222\" data-end=\"1241\">quality of life<\/strong> means to you, what kinds of medical care you would want, what circumstances might change those wishes, and whom you would trust to speak for you.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1550\">You do not need to resolve everything in one conversation. These discussions can unfold over time and change as your health, circumstances, or priorities change. Your wishes may evolve. A change in health, diagnosis, relationship, living situation, or simply your perspective may give you a reason to revisit your plans.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1389\" data-end=\"1550\">Review your advanced healthcare, directive, periodically, talk again with the people who matter to you, and make changes when your wishes change.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1552\" data-end=\"1704\"><strong>The most meaningful conversation may be with the person who knows you well, understands your values, and whom you trust to hear what matters to you.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae023ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"ae023ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e83b325 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-inherit elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"e83b325\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-262d7b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"262d7b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>If you&#8217;re unsure how to begin, conversation tools such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/codaalliance.org\/go-wish\/\"><strong>Go Wish Cards<\/strong><\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/theconversationproject.org\"><strong>The Conversation Project<\/strong><\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.practicalbioethics.org\/featured-resources\/caring-conversations\/\"><strong>the Caring Conversations workbook<\/strong><\/a> can provide questions and prompts to help get the conversation started. Links to these and other planning tools can be found in our Resources section.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6268da3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6268da3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-068ee2e\" data-id=\"068ee2e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3071fac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3071fac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Step 3.  PUT YOUR WISHES IN WRITING <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d169160 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d169160\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f7a78d9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f7a78d9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: medium; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;\" data-start=\"571\" data-end=\"691\">After learning about your options and talking with the people you trust, the next step is to put your wishes in writing.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: medium; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;\" data-start=\"693\" data-end=\"897\"><strong data-start=\"693\" data-end=\"897\">The people closest to you can only honor your wishes if they understand what those wishes are. Putting them in writing provides clarity and guidance if a time comes when you cannot speak for yourself.<\/strong><\/p><p dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: medium; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;\" data-start=\"899\" data-end=\"1099\">An\u00a0<strong data-start=\"902\" data-end=\"935\">Advance Health Care Directive<\/strong>\u00a0allows you to document your health care wishes and name someone you trust to speak for you if you are unable to make or communicate health care decisions yourself.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: medium; caret-color: #000000; color: #000000;\" data-start=\"1101\" data-end=\"1243\">Visit our\u00a0<strong data-start=\"1111\" data-end=\"1133\">Advance Directives<\/strong>\u00a0section to learn more about choosing a form, naming a health care agent, and documenting what matters to you.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"1101\" data-end=\"1243\"><strong>A document can record your choices. The people who know you can help preserve the meaning behind them.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\" dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"266\" data-end=\"568\">Once you have completed your Advance Health Care Directive, share copies with your health care agent, physician, and health care providers, and ask that it be added to your electronic health record so it is available when needed. An Advance Directive is meant to be shared\u2014not tucked away where no one can find it.<\/p><p dir=\"auto\" data-start=\"573\" data-end=\"810\"><b>Review your advanced healthcare, directive, periodically, talk again with the people who matter to you, and make changes when your wishes change.<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7a782eb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7a782eb\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fe8ea4d\" data-id=\"fe8ea4d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6697173 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"6697173\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"encourage\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d72b44f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d72b44f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Helping someone else begin the conversation<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-158418c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"158418c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2193a49 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2193a49\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">You may know someone who could benefit from thinking about their own advance care planning\u2014a parent, relative, friend, or someone else you care about.<\/p><p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Starting that conversation can sometimes feel awkward. Talking about serious illness, incapacity, or the end of life may even feel negative or uncomfortable. But advance care planning is not about expecting something bad to happen. <strong>It is a practical matter of life\u2014and an act of love.<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">Talking about your wishes is a gift to the people who care about you. It gives them the knowledge they may one day need to honor your choices. It is also a gift <em>to them<\/em>: instead of leaving those you love with the burden of wondering what you would have wanted, you have given them the clarity to know.<\/p><p class=\"isSelectedEnd\">The conversation does not need to begin with answers or decisions. It can begin simply: What matters most to you? Who would you trust to speak for you? What kinds of care would you want\u2014or not want\u2014if you could no longer speak for yourself?<\/p><p><strong>Having your wishes documented\u2014and making sure the right people know and understand them\u2014provides clarity for everyone involved. When the people who may one day speak for you understand your wishes, they are better prepared to honor them.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>planning for a good death \u201cPlanning for the end of life is not about predicting the future. It is about making your wishes known while they are yours to express.\u201d\u2014 Final Exodus Step 1. Learn about your options Begin by learning about the end-of-life choices and planning tools available to you. Explore this website at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1463","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1463"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1463\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9732,"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1463\/revisions\/9732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}