Talk to Your Family During the Holidays

When the family is gathered on Thanksgiving or during the upcoming holidays, have a difficult — but critical — talk together.

You can save anguish and conflict when a family member is close to death by knowing what their wishes are.  You can help your family know what you want, as well.  The Engage with Grace slide helps to start the conversation

You can  download one slide from Engage with Grace to start your family’s discussion.

The slide has only five questions:

1. On a scale of 1 to 5 where do you fall on the continuum? Let me die in my own bed, without any medical intervention through Don’t give up on me no matter what, try any proven and unproven intervention possible.
2. If there were a choice, would you prefer to die… at home, in a hospital, or not sure?
3. Could a loved one correctly describe how you’d like to be treated in the case of a terminal illness… yes or no?
4. Is there someone you trust whom you’ve appointed to advocate on your behalf when the time is near. . . yes or no?
5. Have you completed any of the following: written a living will, appointed a healthcare power of attorney, or completed an advanced directive?

Although eight out of ten people say that it is important to write down end-of-life wishes, only about one-third have.  Three out of four Americans would prefer to die at home, but up to half of will actually die in the hospital.

Engage with Grace has asked bloggers to spread the message of using the One Slide to help families talk together this holiday about end-of-life issues.  I am glad to be part of that effort.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I am grateful for all of you . . . the work you do for cancer patients and survivors, the concern you have for your families, the courage you who are patients and survivors have in facing this illness.

And tune into Kaleidoscope at 4 pm on FOX.