Don't avoid "it"

Don’t avoid “it”, by Cheryl Cottrill, Founding Director & End of Life Doula at Huron Shores Hospice

We avoid ‘it!’ ‘It’ being, planning for our inevitable end-of-life. Why is ‘it’ important? By not expressing our wishes, we’re giving up control over our own death to others. We will leave our families with difficult decisions to make on our behalf. This could cause a lot of stress and even drive a wedge between loved ones.

Have you ever considered what a “good” death would look like for you? What about the kind of care you’d want if you were seriously ill and unable to communicate your wishes? These are tough questions, but they are ones we should all be asking ourselves, regardless of age.

It’s not a good idea to make decisions when we’re sick and scared in a hospital. It’s better to plan ahead and talk to our loved ones while we are still healthy. That way, we know our wishes can be respected, even if we cannot speak for ourselves.

Planning for the end of life might be scary, but it is worth it. ‘It’ can give you peace of mind and help you have meaningful conversations with your family. ‘It’ can also help you make the most of your time. You will feel a sense of purpose as you think about the memories you want to make and the legacy you want to leave.

Let Huron Shores Hospice help. We are offering free End of Life Planning workshops to talk about what to include and how to write your plan. The workshop will provide an outline to complete your personalized plan at home. We will help you answer questions like: What do you consider a good quality of life? Where is your preferred location for care? What should you think about before you name your Substitute Decision Maker?

Workshops are being held:

Kincardine: Wednesday, October 18th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm in the Seniors Room, Davidson Centre

Lucknow: Monday, September 25th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm in Lucknow Legion

Creating a plan might be one of the most important things you do for yourself. It may also be the best gift you give to your loved ones. ‘It’ offers the best path to a peaceful and meaningful death, surrounded by the people and things you care about most. Let’s break the taboo and get ‘it’ done – your future self and your loved ones will thank you.

RSVP to barbara@huronshoreshospice.ca or call 519-385-5683 with your preferred location/date.