We will all die at some point. No one knows when or how, but one thing is certain: the end is inevitable. Although the time and cause of death are uncontrollable; there are things that can be determined in advance. These decisions can be difficult but, when the time comes, having them decreases stress for all involved.
The majority of people (92%) think it is important to talk with family members about end-of-life care; however, only a third (32%), have had the conversation (The Conversation Project National Survey, 2018). Waiting for a patient to become terminally ill to try to figure out what their wishes are is extremely difficult. What if we change the
conversation to one about quality of life?
Knowing your values and sharing them with family members will help make decisions regarding medical treatment. If they know what is important to you, it will be easier to assess a situation and determine if you will be able to maintain a good quality of life on your terms.
The following Values Worksheet created by Georgetown University Nursing can be used as a guide:
Goals
What events do you want to witness or experience? What milestones do you want to reach?
Independence
How self-sustaining do you need to be? What would you like to be able to do for
yourself?
Communication
How would you like to be able to communicate with others? What do you need to be
able to express yourself and how do you need to express it?
Religion
How important is it that your care adhere to a faith system? If so, what are the
specifics?
Pain
Is it more important for you to be pain-free or lucid? How would you like your pain to be managed?
“Doing Everything”
What does that term mean to you?
Setting
Where do you want to receive care? Where do you want to spend your final days? Who do you want with you at that time?
Although these conversations never seem easy, it can be fun learning what your family members value in life. It is also important to remember that values can change
depending on the season of life. Revisiting the questions from time to time is always a good idea.
Sources:
https://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/blog/talking-about-end-of-life-care/
https://online.nursing.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2021/04/values-history_worksheet.pdf
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