Care At The End Of Life

Overview

You will face many hard decisions as you near the end of life. These include:

What kind of medical care you want.

For example, do you want cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if your heart stops? Or do you want to be on a breathing machine to help you breathe if you can't breathe on your own? Write down your wishes in your living will.

Where you would like to receive care.

Some people would rather be cared for in a hospital. Others choose to be cared for at home or in a nursing home.

Who will make decisions about your care.

Be sure to name someone to be your health care agent (health care proxy, health care surrogate). This person can make decisions for you if you can't make them for yourself.

Whether you want to donate your organs.

After your death, you may be able to donate certain organs depending on their condition.

Look for chances to talk about your end-of-life choices early and often. You could bring up the subject while you write your will. Or you could talk with loved ones after a doctor's visit or at a family gathering. Planning ahead will help you and your loved ones make hard decisions when the time comes.