Planning Your End-of-Life Wishes

What happens when you’re gone?

It’s a conversation no one wants to have.

Local health organizations invited the community to think about their end-of-life wishes.

This started as a state initiative.

Organizers are encouraging adults to start talking about their end-of-life goals on National Health Care Decision Day.
 
The educational event featured the documentary, “Nine to Ninety.”

It’s about three generations from one family coming together to face the questions and consequences of aging.

The movie was followed by a panel sharing personal life stories about how important advance care planning is.
 
“Doing these advance care directives is important so that it does less that burden for the family, so that they’re not having to make that decision for their loved ones. They know exactly what their wishes are,” says Essentia Health Palliative Care Coordinator Debbie Kirchoffner.
 
Organizers say that this is not targeting just an older audience.

They say everyone over the age of 18 should start thinking about end-of-life planning.