End-of-life planning made easy: Expert tips for peaceful transitions

By Sara Maples, MD How prepared are you for your homegoing? The healthcare decisions you make today can make the end-of-life experience a whole lot easier for you and your family. As a palliative care and hospice physician, I work with people who are living with serious illness or are at the end of their lives. Too often, I see patients and families struggle unnecessarily because the patients haven’t had spoken to their families about what they want their final journeys to look like.& Having “the talk” isn’t easy, but it can give you and your loved ones peace of mind. Here are five ways you can gain control over your end-of-life decisions. Give thought to what you value.& What is important to you when it comes to quality of life? Is mobility important to you? What would living with dignity look like to you? Do you want to be fully dependent on others for your care?& It’s not as simple as saying, “Do everything you can to keep me alive” or “Do nothing – just let me go.” Medical care options are numerous and complex. Our palliative care team can help by explaining medical terminology and the types of...