Did you know that at least 47% of people go out of their way to avoid talking about death with a parent? This isn’t hard to believe because it’s not necessarily a topic that anyone wants to discuss to great length or in-depth. No one wants to talk about the inevitable but simply having the conversation is something that will save your family members and friends from having to deal with more on their plate during a difficult time.
This is a conversation that everyone will need to have at some point and it’s nothing that we can escape because we’re all human, but it is something that we can make easier. Dignity Memorial, a full-service funeral home, crematorium and cemetery, is a good place to start when thinking about planning ahead. The thing is, while a topic like this can seem scary, it’s also a topic that you can have once to save your family the heartache and trouble of having to do it on your behalf if it’s ever needed.
The point is in planning. Planning for yourself so that no one else has to and planning to give yourself and your family peace of mind.
Why Is Planning Ahead and Being Proactive Important?
Have you thought about the difference that being proactive makes in a time of need? Nothing is ever set in stone for anyone and because this is hard for most to navigate alone, Dignity Memorial gives you the support that you would need. Additionally, though, there are a lot more benefits to being proactive when it comes to planning for the things we don’t necessarily want to think about.
Ensuring Personal Wishes Are Respected:
One of the primary reasons to plan ahead for end-of-life services, unexpected situations, and ensuring that all of your affairs are in order with the planning portion of things is to ensure that our wishes and preferences are respected. By engaging in conversations about our desires for medical treatments, funeral arrangements (or expressing the choice to opt out of a funeral), and other aspects related to this topic, we can communicate our choices clearly to our loved ones, caretakers, and healthcare providers. This way we maintain control over our own lives at all stages.
Relieving the Emotional Burden On Loved Ones:
This might be the biggest benefit of them all because when individuals fail to plan for end-of-life services, their loved ones are often left grappling with difficult decisions during a highly emotional and challenging time. By discussing and documenting our preferences in advance, we alleviate the burden on our loved ones, enabling them to focus on emotional support and cherishing our remaining time together. It brings peace of mind to know that our loved ones are not left guessing about our wishes.
Financial Considerations and Financial Security:
End-of-life services, including medical expenses, funeral costs, and estate planning, can be financially burdensome for families. Planning ahead allows individuals to make informed decisions regarding financial arrangements, such as purchasing life insurance, setting up a trust, or saving for end-of-life expenses.
Dignity Memorial has professionals prepared to work with you and walk you through a lot of the service-based process, memorial planning, etc. By addressing financial considerations in advance, we protect our loved ones from potential financial hardships, ensuring they are not burdened by unforeseen expenses.
Facilitating Open Communication and Shared Decision-Making:
Engaging in conversations about end-of-life services open up opportunities for honest and open communication within families. It allows for the exploration of personal values, beliefs, and expectations surrounding death and dying. Not to mention, we often learn something more about ourselves along the way. By having these discussions, families can make informed decisions together, fostering a better sense of unity and shared responsibility.
Such open dialogue can also promote healing and create stronger connections among family members during an emotionally challenging time. These are the reasons that working with a staple in the community that specializes in this type of focus is so important.
The Difference That Dignity Memorial Makes
Planning ahead ensures that everything you prefer is already in place and while this isn’t something people talk about every day, it’s something that can be planned once and there as a safeguard for you and your family. Dignity Memorial combines comfort with meaning and meaning with memory.
This is one of the many reasons that they are considered to be an invaluable resource for those going through difficult times and for those that want to make a difficult time slightly easier for those closest to them.
