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Developing an End of Life Plan People make end of life plans for all sorts of reasons. Some people are concerned that one day they will become so sick and frail and their quality of life will become so impaired that death will become the preferred option. Others worry that because current generations are living longer than their parents’ and grandparents’ generations, they will have to face that new set of worries that come from longevity itself. Some elderly people are simply ‘tired of life.’
The reasons that lead an elderly person or someone who is seriously ill to seek information about their end-of-life choices are many and varied. All are intensely personal. Rewriting the ways in which society can plan for and experience death and dying is the challenge of our time.
The development of an end of life plan is one small step that all of us can take to protect those we love from the ravages of the law. While most of us will never use our plan, we can all draw comfort in knowing that if things ever become too painful or undignified (especially in the context of serious illness and age), we will have a plan in place that will allow us to maintain our dignity and our independence.