When it comes to end-of-life planning, one of the more daunting tasks can be to talk about your
end-of-life arrangements and who will make the hard decisions when you cannot do so. As a
probate attorney, I can share a few key pieces of advice to help make this process easier.

Talk to Family
The process starts with talking to your loved ones and being honest about what you would like to
happen as you reach the end of your life. Be clear and help them understand your feelings about
where you want to live, what treatments you are okay with, and what you’d like to happen after
you die. Lay everything out and encourage them to ask questions.

Designate the Right Person
Once you have talked with your family, make sure they understand and respect your wishes.
When contemplating who your advocate will be, it is vital to make an informed decision by
choosing the right fit. Being a loved one does not always qualify them to be your healthcare
surrogate, especially if they are too emotional to handle the full responsibility of this role.
The ideal candidate is someone who knows you and your wishes and will honor them. These
decisions are emotional and directly affect the progression of your medical care. It is beneficial
to have a primary healthcare surrogate as well as an alternative. Here are a few things to keep in
mind before designating someone as your Healthcare surrogate or Proxy.
1. Someone close to you, such as a spouse/partner, close family member, or friend
2. Someone local who can be at the hospital or facility quickly
3. Someone trustworthy and dependable who will honor your wishes
4. Someone assertive and strong-willed, who’s not afraid to ask questions and speak on your
behalf
5. Someone capable and competent to make the hard choices, such as when to withhold
treatment or decline resuscitation
It is essential to include a list of people who cannot or should not make healthcare decisions for
you. Some people may not be comfortable or able to make these choices, leaving you vulnerable.

End-of-Life Care Planning in Six Steps
As we age, our needs and desires change. As we approach the end of our life, it is crucial to have
a solid plan in place to see that our needs are met, and desires are carried out. It is critical to
remember that other considerations, such as social care, spiritual care, and support for family and
friends, should also factor in. For caregivers and loved ones, this is a very emotional time.
1. Discussions as the end-of-life approaches
 Open, honest communication
 Identifying triggers for discussion
2. Assessment care planning and review
 Agreed care plan and regular review of needs and preferences
 Assessing the needs of caregivers
3. Coordination of care
 Strategic coordination
 Coordination of individual patient care
 Rapid response
4. Delivery of high-quality services in different settings
 High-quality care provisions in all settings
 Acute community care homes, extra care housing hospices, community hospitals,
prisons, secure hospitals, and hostels
 Ambulance services
5. Care in the last days of life
 Identification of the dying phase
 Review of needs and preferences for place of death
 Support for both patient and caregiver
 Recognition of wishes regarding resuscitation and organ donation
6. Care after death
 Recognition that end-of-life care does not stop at the point of death
 Timely verification and certification of death or referral to coroner
 Care and support of caregivers and family, including emotional and practical
bereavement support

Advance Directive
An advance directive documents your wishes concerning medical treatments, procedures,
medications, and use of medical devices. You will designate someone as your healthcare
surrogate or proxy to make medical decisions on your behalf. In this role, they could decide
when to withhold or decline life-sustaining treatment. Our firm can walk you through a
comprehensive checklist giving you peace of mind that nothing is left to chance and your desires
are clearly laid out.

Living Will
Living wills are often included in an advanced directive but are more limited in scope. Like
advanced directives, this documents your desires regarding certain life-sustaining or life-saving
procedures and designates someone responsible for speaking on your behalf.

Medical Power of Attorney
A medical power of attorney grants an authorized representative the power to make medical
decisions on your behalf when you are physically incapable of doing so.

Custom Documents
 Organ donor forms
 Body donor forms

Schedule a FREE Consultation with our Experienced End-of-Life Planning Attorneys
Every & Stack has dedicated over 40 years to helping clients and their families. We provide
comprehensive knowledge and experience, giving you peace of mind that everything will be
taken care of and that your wishes are well documented. Schedule a free consultation today at
386-868-4615. Let us help you develop a plan that works for you and your family.