Great advice as always. I finished my career as a medical examiner, in UK a sort of sub-coroner. I certified hundreds of deaths in hospital. The pattern was recurring and sad. An elderly person was repeatedly admitted to hospital with a chronic illness. They made a recovery and were discharged . The process was repeated several times over a year or so. Eventually the final admission ended with a trip to my mortuary. I cannot believe any of them wanted to die under such circumstances. If you’d asked them in their younger days how they would like to die I’m certain most would say at home with family. The take home message from this little rant is. Make a plan for your final days, tell your relatives what you want. Say you don’t want to die in a hospital bed surrounded by people you don’t know. When my Dad had a stroke and was clearly terminal my Mum, didn’t know what to do so sent for an ambulance. I sent it away. He died in his own bed with his family around him. My last gift to him was to give him a good death.
Thank you for this! In my work with seniors, it is #2 on your list that is a HUGE issue! So many times when in crisis, usually from a fall at home, my client would have two options: Make the big decision of where to live next in a full-on panic or let someone else make the decision. After a lifetime of being in control, this was a big insult on top of a terrible injury.
Great advice as always. I finished my career as a medical examiner, in UK a sort of sub-coroner. I certified hundreds of deaths in hospital. The pattern was recurring and sad. An elderly person was repeatedly admitted to hospital with a chronic illness. They made a recovery and were discharged . The process was repeated several times over a year or so. Eventually the final admission ended with a trip to my mortuary. I cannot believe any of them wanted to die under such circumstances. If you’d asked them in their younger days how they would like to die I’m certain most would say at home with family. The take home message from this little rant is. Make a plan for your final days, tell your relatives what you want. Say you don’t want to die in a hospital bed surrounded by people you don’t know. When my Dad had a stroke and was clearly terminal my Mum, didn’t know what to do so sent for an ambulance. I sent it away. He died in his own bed with his family around him. My last gift to him was to give him a good death.
Very well said.
Mandy, I just saw this. It’s so important to get your affairs in order!!
I know and I haven’t got too far yet!
Thank you for this! In my work with seniors, it is #2 on your list that is a HUGE issue! So many times when in crisis, usually from a fall at home, my client would have two options: Make the big decision of where to live next in a full-on panic or let someone else make the decision. After a lifetime of being in control, this was a big insult on top of a terrible injury.