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Dealing with End of Life Issues
Affordable Burials And Cremations • Feb 17, 2016
Canada’s aging population is a definite social and political issue, but what does that mean for the average Canadian and dealing with end of life issues? More and more of us will be caring for aging parents in the coming years, and health care professionals are forecasting a big challenge: meeting the needs of a drastically increased number of elderly patients who may be suffering from serious physical and mental health issues near the end of their lives. If you worry about how you will be able to cope with caring for and transitioning your loved ones who are seriously ill or just very advanced in age, there is help. Here are some things you will need to consider to prepare yourself for dealing with end of life issues.
- Prepare early . Conventional wisdom states that one is never really prepared for death, but there is nothing worse than being completely unprepared in a crisis situation. What often happens is that no one wants to broach such an uncomfortable subject for fear of upsetting family members, but eventually the conversation must be had – so it’s better to bring the whole family together and do it early, says Malene-Smith Davis of Capital Caring, a palliative care provider. Preplanning helps family members reduce stress and make better decisions about end of life planning and care.
- Designate a decision-maker who will act as a health care agent for the ill/aged family member(s) and is comfortable making decisions. This person should have all the information they need to make choices about every aspect of a person’s care, if and when that person can no longer make decisions for themselves. Putting the person’s wishes in writing will help the designated health care agent follow exact instructions, relieving the pressure of not knowing what to do in an emergency situation.
- Speak with your family doctor . It’s important to make sure that the patient’s primary health care professional and/or team, knows about the patient’s final wishes so they can make appropriate treatment decisions when the time comes.
- Create a living will and other documents to give legal weight to your decisions. For example, a power of attorney for health care designates a proxy to make health decisions that are legally binding. A DNR (do-not-resuscitate) order can ensure that life-sustaining treatments are not used to prolong life against your loved one’s wishes. A form can also be filled out indicating that organ donation is desired, which will set that process in motion when the time comes. A will serves the purpose of distributing a person’s belongings and estate among their relatives after they are deceased. These documents can help family members manage the patient’s affairs before and after death, minimizing the potential for drawn out court actions or disputes.
- Decide on hospice/palliative care. For patients in the last stages of terminal illness who have decided against continuing aggressive life-prolonging measures, hospice care can be a godsend, improving quality of life near the end. Plan early to ensure that insurance coverage is in place and that space is available in your chosen hospice.
- Get help and support for yourself. Dealing with grief while trying to support your loved one isn’t easy. Your relationship may change and you will both face new demands; providing emotional support, coming to terms with denial and accepting the illness, planning for the future and keeping a bedside vigil can be some of the physically and emotionally draining tasks ahead. Talking to a professional counselor, hospice expert or member of the clergy can relieve the burdens you feel. Friends and family members will also be willing to listen to your fears and grief, but sometimes people don’t know what to say – unless you reach out first.
- After the death, speak with a funeral director . At Affordable Burials and Cremations , we can help you with all the details so you can have time and space to grieve. We will help you make arrangements depending on the cultural customs of your loved one; advise you on who to notify and what forms need to be filled out; and make arrangements to pick up the body. Later, we’ll help you decide on a funeral or cremation service that meets your needs and honours your loved one to the fullest.
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The death of a beloved friend or family member is one of life’s greatest challenges. Our staff at Affordable Burials and Cremations sees firsthand how a loss can turn the world upside down, creating unfamiliar feelings and unexpected reactions. Grief often affects a person physically, emotionally, and even spiritually, as they struggle to adjust to life without their loved one in it. Taking part in a grief group benefits you embracing the opportunity to express feelings with others who understand what they are going through. Some who have lost a loved one wonder if a support group could ever help them. They are so mired in their grief they can’t even imagine sitting down in a room of strangers. But support groups are a time-tested method of help for people struggling with all sorts of difficulties – and grief is among them. That said, it’s important to find a support group that works for you; one that is free of judgement, offers guidance, validation, and reassurance. Here are four groups our team recommends: GriefShare – Support online and in person for adults grieving a loss GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You’ll gain access to valuable GriefShare resources to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. Web Healing – Interactive Grief website Web Healing, the internet’s first interactive grief website, has served the bereaved on the net since 1995. It offers grief discussion boards where men and women can discuss issues related to grief and healing or browse recommended grief books. The site’s originator, Tom Golden, LCSW, is an internationally known psychotherapist, author, and speaker on the topic of healing from loss. The Compassionate Friends – Support after the death of a child Whether your family has had a child die (at any age, from any cause), or you are trying to help those who have gone through this life-altering experience, The Compassionate Friends exists to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process. The Compassionate Friends has been supporting bereaved families after the death of a child for four decades. Remember, no matter where you are in your grief journey, you can always turn to us for advice and assistance. We’ve been serving families in the Toronto area for more than 50 years now and have many connections and numerous resources available. You can c ount on us to be there for you – always.
1. Personalized service: Family-run businesses often provide a more personalized experience for their customers, as they may have more invested in the success of each individual customer. 2. Long-term focus: Family-run businesses prioritize long-term success over short-term gains, as they are vested in passing the business down to future generations. 3. Agility and flexibility: Family-run businesses are more agile and flexible in responding to changes in the market, as they do not have to go through multiple layers of bureaucracy to make decisions. 4. Stronger relationships: Family-run businesses have stronger relationships with their employees, as they view them more as family members than as just workers. 5. Community ties: Family-run businesses have stronger ties to the local community, as they have deep roots in the area and be more committed to supporting local initiatives. 6. Greater trust: Customers trust family-run businesses more than corporations, as they view them as more authentic and less focused solely on profits. 7. Innovation: Family-run businesses are more innovative in their approach to business, as they are more willing to take risks and try new things in order to stay competitive.
Cost: Cremation is often less expensive than traditional burial because it eliminates the need for a casket, embalming, and cemetery plot. Environmental impact: Cremation has a smaller environmental impact than burial because it doesn’t require land for burial or the use of embalming chemicals. Flexibility: With cremation, the family has more flexibility in terms of when and where to hold a memorial service, as the ashes can be kept in an urn or scattered in a location of their choice. Religious and cultural acceptance: Cremation is more widely accepted in many religions and cultures than it once was. Space-saving: Cremation allows for more efficient use of space in cemeteries, which can be a concern in some urban areas. It’s important to note that burial also has its advantages, such as providing a physical place for loved ones to visit and providing a sense of closure for some people. Ultimately, the choice between cremation and burial is a personal one and should be based on individual preferences, beliefs, and cultural practices.
When a family in Toronto is considering cremation instead of traditional burial , they may wonder if their options are limited or even impersonal – but this is definitely not the case when you choose Affordable Burials and Cremations . More people in Toronto and around Canada are choosing cremation than ever before, and our caring team will explain how we can meet your needs and wishes in creating a meaningful tribute without sacrificing the healing, traditional elements of a burial.
Beyond the many demands of assisting with a loved one’s healthcare, caregiving encompasses much more. Childcare responsibilities, help with schoolwork, and limited access to services have been heaped onto many – not to mention the general toll that caregiving can take over time.
At Affordable Burials and Cremations we’ve noticed in recent years that more and more people are planning their own funeral. And some choose to do it rather early in life – many as soon as they retire. These people realize that not only are they taking the opportunity to express their own desires about their farewell, but they’re also removing a huge burden from their family. When the time comes, there will be no guessing and no arguments about what they would have wanted. Everything will be easily accessible for you.
Throughout our lives, we collect quite a few things possessions: furniture, clothing, knickknacks, books, and more. When a family member dies , they leave their belongings behind along with the question, “What should you do with all of this stuff?” It’s no surprise this is a highly sensitive issue, as these items serve as a visible reminder of someone who meant so much to so many.
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Dear grieving mothers,
Throughout our decades of experience at Affordable Burials and Cremations , our caring team has been asked many times by families in the Toronto area what it’s like to be in deathcare, and whether our work is somehow depressing and morbid. While it is true that the work we do here is not easy, we always respond that above all else, our work is immensely rewarding. It is a tremendous honor to have someone entrust to you the planning of a loved one’s final farewell . We are also constantly inspired by the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of the family bond when facing a loss together. It is true tragedy often brings out the best in people.
