We're all going to die and most of us have some fears about it so it makes sense to do all you can to put plans in place, in order to retain some control of what happens to us.
We've always talked openly about such things in our family, often with a lot of black humour. Shortly after my father died 20 years ago, mum 'put her affairs in order' and made a new will, sorted EPA (as it was back then) and made her Living Will. She talked proudly about her plans just about every time I saw her after that - it all became a bit tiresome as she would endlessly tell me, 'You'll be well off when I pop my clogs.' She also kept a load of dad's old pills and told me she planned to 'take the lot' should she reach the stage of needing someone to wipe her bottom - that was always her line in the sand.
Of course, it never works like that. I suppose she vaguely imagined having a heart attack/stroke or terminal cancer and thought she would have the wherewithal to determine one day that her life was no longer worth living and would then take the pills. In reality, although her health is excellent, no one foresaw dementia or made any plans for what to do if it happened.
However, those of us who have experienced dementia through caring know darn well what is involved, hence all our worries. Hopefully, having this knowledge will help us in preparing our future plans and some of the worry can be avoided (or at least reduced.)
@Lawson58 I can hear your relief that you have now done this
We've always talked openly about such things in our family, often with a lot of black humour. Shortly after my father died 20 years ago, mum 'put her affairs in order' and made a new will, sorted EPA (as it was back then) and made her Living Will. She talked proudly about her plans just about every time I saw her after that - it all became a bit tiresome as she would endlessly tell me, 'You'll be well off when I pop my clogs.' She also kept a load of dad's old pills and told me she planned to 'take the lot' should she reach the stage of needing someone to wipe her bottom - that was always her line in the sand.
Of course, it never works like that. I suppose she vaguely imagined having a heart attack/stroke or terminal cancer and thought she would have the wherewithal to determine one day that her life was no longer worth living and would then take the pills. In reality, although her health is excellent, no one foresaw dementia or made any plans for what to do if it happened.
However, those of us who have experienced dementia through caring know darn well what is involved, hence all our worries. Hopefully, having this knowledge will help us in preparing our future plans and some of the worry can be avoided (or at least reduced.)
@Lawson58 I can hear your relief that you have now done this