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The Word Unspoken Death is a touchy subject, but preparation will be greatly appreciated by the loved ones left behind by CEO Deanne Martin-Soares. Jun 02, 2009 Death! Now before you turn the page, please give me a minute or two. You know that old cliché, “ the only thing for sure is death and taxes.” This may be true, however, people usually spend more time in one year organizing their taxes, than they spend during their lifetime organizing their death. Now I know that sounds a little morbid, and most people think that if they talk about it, it will happen. Obviously this is not true, but it is easy to understand why death is a taboo subject.
Death is never pleasant, and rarely accepted, but it happens nevertheless. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D. defined the stages of dying as: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and finally Acceptance. Many people never make it to the final stage of acceptance. Can preparation help you to skip one or all of these stages? Probably not, however, the goal is to get to acceptance sooner rather than later, so that you can spend time enjoying the people and places around you.
Let’s say that you have received news from your doctor that your health has taken a serious turn for the worse. This could be a result of cancer, congestive heart failure, emphysema or any other chronic or terminal illness. What plans would you make that could help ease the pain and uncertainty for you and your loved ones? What does “quality of life” mean to you? Who do you want to be in control of your dying process?
Obviously, no one can prepare for a sudden death, but in the case of a chronic illness or terminal diagnosis, there can be steps taken to understand and control the process. The most important step to take is to educate yourself on the options that are available to you. You may want to have frequent hospital admissions along with aggressive treatment. If you determine that aggressive treatment is no longer for you, there are alternatives.
One of the best but yet misunderstood alternatives is Hospice. Hospice is not only for cancer diagnosis, but also for other chronic or terminal illnesses and end of life care. They can help you, and your family, understand the dying process and teach your family members to assist in your needed care. There are a host of other organizations and support groups that can help you prepare. The time you spend discussing your options with Hospice will be time well spent.
Remember, it is your life and your death. The decisions made are essential and should not be left up to your loved ones to handle during the grieving period. By learning what lies ahead, you can you take control of the process and truly begin to live. |
