Whether recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, recognising the importance of preparedness or simply reaching older age or retirement, you may wish to make important decisions about long-term care, financial arrangements, and estate planning. This is known as end-of-life planning, and it’s a vital and compassionate act that allows you to take control of your final wishes, ensuring they are respected and relieving your loved ones of unnecessary burdens during a challenging time. It is an opportunity to reflect on your life, consider your values, and make important decisions about healthcare, funeral arrangements, financial matters, and the distribution of your assets.
Why is it important to create an end-of-life checklist?
You may be wondering why it is vital to plan for the future. For one, you can alleviate potential confusion and conflicts among family members, provide clarity and guidance for those responsible for your affairs, and enable your loved ones to focus on supporting one another emotionally. Moreover, engaging in this planning process allows you to actively participate in shaping your legacy, ensuring that your values, beliefs, and personal story are respected and honoured and shared as required.
Taking the time to prepare an end-of-life checklist is an act of love and consideration, providing peace of mind for both yourself and your family and offering a profound gift of support during a time of grief and loss.
End-of-life planning checklist in Australia
Discover the essential steps in our comprehensive end-of-life planning guide designed to help you navigate the important decisions and arrangements with clarity and compassion.
Healthcare Decisions
- Assign a healthcare proxy
This will only be required in certain situations. Assigning a healthcare proxy is crucial because it ensures that someone you trust is empowered to make healthcare decisions on your behalf when you are unable to do so. Life is unpredictable, and there may come a time when you cannot communicate or make informed choices about your medical treatment. In such situations, having a healthcare proxy allows you to maintain control over your healthcare decisions. Your chosen proxy can advocate for your preferences, values, and beliefs, ensuring that medical interventions align with your wishes. They can work closely with healthcare professionals, access your medical records, and make informed decisions based on the information available. By assigning a healthcare proxy, you can have peace of mind knowing that someone you trust will be there to make decisions in your best interest and ensure your healthcare wishes are respected. Bear in mind that to formalise a healthcare proxy, legal paperwork will be required.Should a healthcare proxy not be assigned, the decision-making authority may be granted to a spouse or domestic partner, adult children, parents, siblings or other close relatives.
- Create a healthcare plan (Advanced Care Directive checklist)
Take the time to reflect on your personal values, beliefs, and healthcare preferences. Consider what matters most to you regarding medical treatment, end-of-life care, and maintaining your desired quality of life. This self-reflection allows you to gain clarity on your wishes and preferences. Then, capture your healthcare plan in writing. This may involve creating a legally binding document, such as an advance healthcare directive or living will. Include details about your preferences for medical treatments, resuscitation, pain management, end-of-life care, and organ donation, if applicable.Ensure that your document is signed, witnessed, and meets the legal requirements of your jurisdiction.
- Organ Donation
If you wish to donate your organs after death, it’s crucial to understand the legal and medical requirements, including the necessary consent procedures and any restrictions that may apply. Consider registering as an organ donor and carrying the required documentation, such as a donor card, to indicate your intention.
Legal Planning
Legal planning plays a crucial role in an end-of-life checklist as it involves ensuring that your affairs are in order and your wishes are legally documented for matters such as estate distribution and power of attorney.
- Assign a power of attorney
Granting power of attorney is a significant step in legal planning, as it involves designating a trusted individual to make decisions on your behalf in various matters, such as finances or healthcare, should you become unable to do so yourself.
- Dependants
Your planning for the future checklist should include any dependants. If the care of a child needs to be prepared, consider financial resources, healthcare needs, legal documentation, and personal relationships. Adequate savings, addressing health concerns, having the right legal documents in place, and considering the impact on loved ones are all crucial dependencies to address in your checklist. By acknowledging and addressing these dependencies, you can create a more comprehensive and effective plan for the future.Due to the nature of these documents, you will need to consult a solicitor where needed.
Personal Preparations
- Pets
If you are the sole owner of any pets, you will need to consider their wellbeing and future care. Find a trusted family member, friend or organisation who is willing to take care of your pet. Provide detailed instructions outlining your pet’s routine, dietary needs, and veterinary history. Include information about their veterinarian and preferred grooming requirements.
- Reproductive materials
One important aspect to think about is whether reproductive materials, such as sperm, eggs, or embryos, should be preserved. Discuss with your healthcare provider about whether to consult a fertility specialist or reproductive clinic.
- Organise time with loved ones
You could plan a short vacation with loved ones, write personal letters to family and friends, or leave a heartfelt video.
Preparing and Gathering Important Documents
There are a number of documents that need to be made readily available and easily found. You may wish to put them all in a labelled folder or the like for safekeeping. These documents include but are not limited to:
- Life insurance
- Bank statements and access
- Asset documentation
- Birth certificate
- Passport/s
- Superannuation
- Passwords and access codes
Funeral Planning and End-of-Life preferences
Think about your personal preferences and how you envision your funeral ceremony. By addressing these aspects, you can help alleviate the burden on your loved ones and ensure that your funeral aligns with your wishes while providing comfort and closure for those left behind.
- Consider whether you would prefer a traditional funeral service, a more informal gathering, or a specific cultural or religious ceremony.
- Reflect on your desired location, such as a place of worship, funeral home, or natural setting.
- Think about how you want to be laid to rest, whether through burial, cremation, or other alternatives like a green burial or donating your body to science.
- Financial considerations are also crucial, so think about budgeting for funeral expenses and consider pre-planning and/or pre-paying for your funeral, if desired.
- Consider any special requests, such as specific readings, music, or personal touches that will make the funeral meaningful and reflective of your life.
What could happen if end-of-life planning isn’t conducted?
If end-of-life planning is not done, several challenges and consequences can arise. First and foremost, without clear directives, decisions regarding medical care may be left to family members or healthcare professionals who may not fully understand your preferences. This can lead to treatments or interventions that do not align with your values and wishes.
Additionally, the absence of an end-of-life plan can cause confusion and disputes among family members, especially if they have different opinions or expectations.
Financial and legal matters may also become complex and unresolved, resulting in potential delays, legal disputes, or unintended distribution of assets.
Moreover, the emotional and psychological burden on loved ones can be significant, as they may struggle to make decisions on your behalf without clear guidance.
Ultimately, the lack of end-of-life planning can lead to increased stress, emotional turmoil, strained relationships, and a diminished sense of control and dignity during a critical and sensitive time.
Who should be involved in end-of-life planning?
While a checklist may be a challenging and confronting thing to do before you die, it’s important to have open and honest conversations about end-of-life wishes and preferences with key individuals who can support and assist in executing your wishes. This may include immediate family and close friends, religious or spiritual advisors, healthcare and other professionals.
