Why is it important to plan for the kind of care you will receive at the end of life?

No one really wants to think about what kind of care they would choose if they should ever be unable to speak for themselves.

Kansans tell us that they think it is important to plan for the end of life - but few do this planning.

Even those who do plan do not always tell those they love about their plans.

It is important to consider your options and to make them known to those you love.

If you wait until a crisis, it is more difficult to carefully consider your options. It is helpful - to you and to those you love - to plan ahead.

Kansas LIFE Project partners encourage all Kansans to complete a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions. The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care Decisions allows you to chose someone you trust and to give them legal power to make health care decisions for you if you should become unable to make them for yourself.

Even more importantly, you should talk to those you love to share your wishes and hopes related to your care. Talking about dying can be very difficult. Getting the conversation started may be the hardest part yet. Click here for some simple, yet useful strategies for getting the dialogue going and sharing your wishes with your loved ones.

The legal documents related to the provision of end-of-life health care are called advance directives. Several of our Project Partners have done extensive work in this area. For sample copies of a Durable Power of Attorney and other information on advanced care planning, please refer to these websites : Kansas Health Ethics and Midwest Bioethics Center.

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