Did you know more than 67% of the Western world dies intestate?
That means not only do they not have a last will and testament, but very few have any sort of end-of-life wishes and information stored safely anywhere.
You see, most of the world doesn’t want to face the most natural and inevitable fact in their life. Their life will end one day.
And the most perplexing thing is that no one is sure when that last day will be. So most people don’t want to face that certainty. We do.
Don’t be one of the sixty seven percent who fail to plan for the inevitable
Why you need to be prepared:
If you make preparations for the end of your life, it empowers you to make the most of the time you have left to live life to the max, never having to worry about the end because you have planned for it. There are many ways to manage the end of your life, and the path you follow can be personal and individual to you and your loved ones.
However,
One essential step you’ll want to take at any time is developing your end-of-life plan. This is a chance to put all your important information into one place, so you can then focus on the other things that really matter.
What Is A Passaway End Of Life Plan?
A Passaway end-of-life plan is the compilation of your important documents, data, care and treatment plans, messages, wishes and other important beliefs in hard copy or stored online.
A Passaway plan is designed to give you peace of mind as you are faced with your inevitable journey of passing away and to make the process easier for those caring for you before and after your passing. With our end-of-life plan, you’ll have greater control over what happens next and know you’re leaving loved ones with the tools and information they need to fulfil your heartfelt wishes.
It’s worth noting that you can develop your Passaway Plan at any time and update it as your life changes. The plan’s goal is to give you and your loved ones comfort if something should happen to you, so consider updating or creating your plan just as you would develop your will.
What Should You Include In Your End Of Life Plan?
Your Passaway Plan should be unique to you and your needs. As with a will, you’ll want to update it regularly as your life and important information change and evolves. You’ll want to include a few things in your plan, and I will also write about some things to consider. When you create a Passaway plan, you will have a step by step guidance and tutorial available on every point and be able to store all of this information in one place.
Essential Information: In this day and age, most of our information is stored electronically, which makes it challenging to access or find after your passing. It’s crucial for your loved ones and family members to have access to your online information. Here are a few critical things you’ll want to note:
Bills:
If you pay your bills online or they are automatically paid from your bank account, it’s essential to write down the accounts and provide the information needed to turn them off when the time comes. Bank account information, utilities, rent, car payments, and other billing information are essential.
Passwords:
You likely have a password to get onto your computer or mobile phone, as well as passwords for websites you frequent and email accounts you use.
It’s a good idea to use a password storage tool, like Dropbox or Nord or 1Password and update the program regularly to make it easier for your loved ones to access the information they need to close accounts and communicate with businesses on your behalf.
Social Media:
There are rules regarding loss, grieving, and social media. You may want to speak with your loved ones about how your social media accounts will be managed after your passing.
Some accounts may be left open for friends and family to maintain a connection after passing, so it’s a good idea to make your feelings about the topic known to those important others.
You’ll also want to ensure that your user IDs and passwords for those accounts are made available.
Work and Creative Ventures:
If you are self-employed or you sell online, your loved ones must have what they need to inform clients and customers of your passing. Keep an updated list of how to access any online stores you sell through and speak to clients about any open projects or orders. Contact information and admin access to the company’s website are also beneficial.
End Of Life Care:
Discussing your end-of-life care wishes can be very challenging for you and your loved ones, but it’s an essential step in ensuring your wishes are followed and that everyone is comfortable with the process as it unfolds. This can include creating Advanced Care Directives, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Enduring Powers of Attorney for your end-of-life care. While you’ll want to sit down and discuss end-of-life care in person with those taking it over on your behalf, having your wishes written down is essential. This written directive will help ensure that they are followed and that those in charge of administering your wishes are not questioned. There are a few things you’ll want to note about end-of-life care:
Life-Sustaining Measures: There are many ways your life can be sustained and prolonged, thanks to modern medicine and technology. Sometimes, however, that comes with difficult choices. Consider your options, speak with your healthcare professionals, and think about how far you want life-sustaining measures to go when it comes to your end-of-life care.
Your Belongings:
It may be challenging to look at the belongings of a joyful and exciting life and consider how they will be shared after your passing, but taking the small step can both ensure that your heirlooms and special items go to the right people and help to reduce stress on those you love.
Take stock of your property and belongings and consider what you want to be passed down, donated, and shared among the family.
If you have produced art or have other personal creations, don’t forget to write down how you wish to have it transferred, saved, or curated. This will help provide you and your loved one’s peace of mind.
Your Messages:
You can create messages of love and empowerment for your:
Wife or husband, children
Brothers and sisters or loved ones,
Family, friends and supporters
Associates from beyond the grave, be it in written notes or emails, audio or video messages.
All the links to these messages can be stored in Youtube in a private setting, or in your Passaway Plan, be it online or stored in your safe place.
Assistance can be organised to help you with creation of videos, text messages, audio messages and as many photographs as needed.
Your Passing Memorial or Funeral Service:
Planning your own passing may feel a little weird or surreal, but it may help you to see it as an opportunity to make your own kind of special goodbye and share your personality with loved ones. Whether you’re interested in a large funeral or you want something more private and personal, or you have specific cultural traditions that you wish to have at your service, writing your wishes down in your Passaway plan can help ensure your wishes are followed and respected.
You have many options regarding how a memorial is carried out, what videos, poems, songs or orations are shared in your honour, and if you want to go on to help those in the medical field by donating your organs, you can give that directive as well. It can be helpful to think of this planning time as a way of parting on your own terms and telling those who are staying behind how much you love them.
Who Advocates for You:
Deciding on your healthcare deputy or surrogate who will ensure your wishes are respected is a challenging and essential step toward finalizing your care.
It’s important to pick someone you trust and someone who will follow through with your requests, even when it can be personally challenging for them.
Communicate with that person regularly, and write them officially down in your Passaway plan to avoid future complications.
