These blog posts should be used in conjunction with your passing away planner, if you don’t have one please visit my shop to purchase one.
Week 4
In this section, we will look at what is needed in order to register a death. Most of the details are the same in this section however, you will be required to know the date and where the person passed away.
The names and occupations of the parents and partners are required as are the maiden names of the females. If you are unsure, marriage certificates list the wife’s maiden name.
It’s quite common to assume there is only one marriage but both my father and brother were married twice in their lifetimes. You will also be required to provide proof of marriage and divorce in these circumstances.
The children’s names and dates of birth are recorded on the death certificate, if any of the children have passed away you will need to provide proof of this.
Week 5
In this section, we are going to look at the preferences you would choose for your end of life stage. Hopefully, when you reach a stage where you are faced with end of life treatment you will be able to advise them what you would like. Sometimes we don’t have that option depending on the circumstances so it is better to record your preferences than perhaps the decision being left to someone else. Also, look into the laws and healthcare in your area in case an option exists such as this already.
Depending on your illness there may or may not be the option to have treatment. Some people prefer to go ahead with treatments that are available even if it gives you a few extra months whereas some prefer quality over quantity.
Have you thought about how informed you would like to be about your illness as you go through it, this is a personal choice but it would help to let someone know or record it down for future reference.
The other aspect to think about is how long do you want to receive care and what level of care that may be. Initially, you may look at just getting help around the home with cleaning and gardening which may progress later to having help with food shopping and cooking to personal care also. There may be the option for palliative care depending on whether or not that is suitable for you.
Everyone is different and we will all want different levels of privacy within our end stage of life, have you thought about what you would want?
Week 6
How involved do you want family and friends to be in this end stage of your life? This is certainly something you have to give a lot of thought to and it especially depends on your relationships with your family and friends.
What are the most important considerations to be in your end of life care? This isn’t really a topic that many people want to talk about and even less to have to think about, but you may be in a situation where you can’t convey what decision you have made, and recording it now will take the stress away if someone else has to make that decision for you.
This may be a confronting topic to think about much less talk about but if it is your wish to donate your organs you need to make this known.
Who do I need to have these conversations with? There is a lot to think about and quite a few hard decisions that may need to be made so maybe having those conversations with family and friends may help you to make those.
Week 7
This section will look at what preferences you would like in your final moments. Our final moments can be quite personal and some of us may want privacy, however, it is our decision on who we want present in those moments.
Those who are religious, have your thought whom you would like there as you pass? It may not have been something you have thought about but if you are religious have you considered having someone from your faith be there at that final stage? They could be there either before, during, or after your passing and if you have a preferred person in mind asking them after you have your diagnosis might ensure they will be available to be there.
Music can be quite comforting and soothing, is there specific music you would like played? When my brother passed away a few years ago one of the things that stands out in my mind was the music that was playing in his hospital room during his last few days. He was spiritual and it was this music that played softly in the background, it gave such a soothing atmosphere in a time that was so very hard to deal with.
