End of Life Planning / Counseling | Bay Area: Oakland, Hayward, Castro Valley CA

What is end-of-life planning / counseling?

End-of-life planning and counseling are both services that help prepare individuals for death. These can include many different elements, including outlining your wishes for what to do if you become incapacitated and what financial or health decisions should be made in such an instance. These plans can help ease the burden faced by your loved ones when you pass away largely by sorting out legal, health, and financial matters as thoroughly as possible before your death. End-of-life counseling and planning are also effective and important ways to come to terms with your illness and your eventual end and can be beneficial for your family members as well.

How early should you start planning?

In some cases—like if you are faced with a terminal diagnosis—you may have a relatively clear understanding of a timeframe for your end-of-life planning. In these cases, it is often recommended that you take care of as many elements as possible while you still feel well enough to do so, as this can ease the burden on yourself and your loved ones later on.

End-of-life care isn’t just for those with illnesses, though, and everyone can benefit from it. While death is an inevitability for all of us, it isn’t predictable in the slightest. We would all like to imagine that we are going to live long and healthy lives, but that sadly isn’t the case for everyone. As such, you should consider getting your affairs in order sooner rather than later to protect your estate and your loved ones from considerable stress if the worst should occur.

How do you start an end-of-life plan?

Here are some basic steps involved in end-of-life plans that can help get you started:

Name an executor — As an adult, you should already have a will—especially if you have children. If you don’t have a will, however, you should seriously think about making one. The first step here is to decide who you trust to handle everything when you die.
Take inventory of your assets — Make sure to include sentimentally and financially valuable items.
Consider health care decisions — Do you want to have an advance directive for your wishes for end-of-life care? These include things like organ donation, whether you want to be resuscitated if you’re on life support, etc.
Name a medical proxy — Pick someone to make your health decisions in the event you are incapacitated.

What does an end-of-life plan include from Urban Health Group?

End-of-life plans with Urban Health Group include assistance with the above elements as well as comprehensive emotional support and guidance from our trained professionals.

If you live in the greater East Bay area including Castro Valley, San Leandro, Oakland, Alameda, and Hayward, CA, and would like to learn more about end-of-life planning and counseling with Urban Health Group, please give us a call or send us an email today.