Have You Had a Conversation About the Last Phase of Life?

Having an open conversation about end of life planning is central to providing high-quality health care, legal guidance, and emotional support. Similarly to Five Wishes, a popular advance directive document we recommended in a previous blog post, the purpose of the Conversation Project is to “have every person’s wishes for end-of-life care expressed and respected”.

The reality is that many people feel powerless when planning for their own, or their loved ones’, final days. Days that should serve as a peaceful ending, or a beautiful memory, can instead turn into something one would rather forget. It can even be traumatizing. With this saddening fact in mind, the Conversation Project was first initiated in 2010.

What began as a grassroots public campaign to share stories of “good deaths” and “hard deaths”, has evolved into a non-for-profit organization supported by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and specialists in the field. One of their main projects is the development of the Conversation Starter Kit: When it comes to end-of-life care, talking matters. This document can be accessed for free online.

It consists of four steps that guide you through the conversation with your loved ones. Although it may not cover everything that is essential when discussing the last phase of your life, it does address the most important questions in a practical way.

It helps you discuss topics such as your wishes for medical care, what you may fear at the end of life, and words of wisdom you want to make sure to have shared. At the very least, it will help you to initiate important conversations.

Access the Conversation Starter Kit here.

The Conversation Project has not only produced the Conversation Starter Kit. They have created material that guides conversations on the following topics: choosing/being a health care proxy, caring for someone with Alzheimer’s/dementia, how to talk to your doctor, and a pediatric starter kit. All of these conversation starter kits can be found on their website.

The website also includes useful resources such as a one and a half hour long Basic Skills Online Course for Conversations about End-of-Life Care and general resources for healthcare professionals. In other words, the Conversation Project contributes to enhancing end of life planning in many powerful ways — working both with the public and the professional community.

What do you think is the most difficult part about talking about end-of-life with your family? Feel free to share your feelings in the comment section below. Whatever they are — there are without a doubt many who feel the same way and would benefit from reading about your thoughts.