Dying used to be a lot easier. Or perhaps we should say a lot less complicated. Before the advent of modern medicine, most people died at home, surrounded by family; their passage often attended (and hopefully eased) by the local doctor and a member of the clergy.
We now live, on average, two decades longer than our forebears of years ago. We become old, then very old, and somewhere along the line we fall ill with some kind of terminal illness: cancer, heart disease, dementia. Modern therapeutic interventions keep us alive for a while, sometimes with a reasonably good quality of life. And then we reach the end — our final year of life.
This final stage of our existence can feel like a nightmare to us and to our caregivers. Medical economic studies reveal that more is spent during this year, on tests, procedures, medications, than on all the previous years of our life. Do we choose this? Actually, it is assumed that it is what we want because it has become the “standard of care” for terminal patients. Few question the appropriateness of all this intervention, least of all the dying person, now too weak or confused to object.
Increasingly, people are growing wary of this scenario and opting for a shorter final phase, but one with an enhanced quality of life. But in order for that to happen, we have to plan for it. These discussions about our final days are crucial, even though many of us may find it uncomfortable and even though it can be difficult to initiate conversations with our relatives and friends.
How can we change the way we talk about and plan for our care at the end of our life?
Enter the “Five Wishes” document. Five Wishes was developed by Aging with Dignity, a national non-profit organization with a mission to safeguard the human dignity of people as they age or face serious illness. For nearly 20 years, Aging with Dignity has been an advocate for quality care for those near the end of life.
The Five Wishes document has become America’s most popular living will because it is written in everyday language and helps start and structure important conversations about care in times of serious illness. Five Wishes is the only legally-binding living will that goes beyond medical directives to instruct others about our personal, emotional and spiritual needs and desires.
We at CRIS have been so impressed with the Five Wishes that we want to share it with others in the community. CRIS will be holding a workshop that will help guide you and your family and friends on how to start a conversation about care when we are facing a life-threatening illness.
The five wishes workshop will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 8 in the CRIS office located in the Cherry Valley Professional Plaza, 2662 Rt 20 East, in Cazenovia. This event is appropriate for individuals and their loved ones as well as health care providers at any level. Documents will be available free of charge.
To register or to learn more, contact [email protected] or call 351-655-5743.
