Discuss medical wishes with family

The burden of making end-of-life care choices is substantial. Intense emotions make it difficult to separate patient preferences from personal preferences, while differing opinions regarding care can lead to arguments among loved ones.

Whether you are taking on end-of-life preparations for yourself or someone else, remember that while this can be a very difficult conversation to have with family, you’re not alone, and there is help.

Here are five things to remember going into this conversation, courtesy of The Conversation Project:

• The conversation doesn’t need to happen immediately. Just start thinking about it.

• You or the loved one you’re caring for can start out by writing a letter—to themselves, a loved one, or a friend—that talks about medical wishes.

• You or your loved one might also consider having a practice conversation with a friend, or a medical professional such as a primary care physician. For guidance on how to talk to a doctor about end-of-life planning, click here.

• Having the conversation may mean disagreement. That’s okay! The important thing is having the conversation now, and not during a medical crisis.

• Talking this over isn’t just a one-time thing. Think of it as the beginning of a series of such conversations.

For more helpful tips on having this conversation, here is a guide provided by the Conversation Project.

Primarily, you should make sure that by the end, everyone is clear on you or your loved one’s medical wishes so there are no lingering conflicts or misunderstandings.