End-of-life planningTrusted Source provides people with tools to control their financial and healthcare decisions while they can still take part in the decision-making process. A person usually starts advance care planningTrusted Source steps with a healthcare professional. They can involve conversations with caregivers about what they would want in the event of a life threatening illness or injury.

This type of planning may helpTrusted Source alleviate unnecessary pain and discomfort, improve quality of life, and provide a better understanding of decision-making challenges for a person and their caregivers.

Individuals do not need a lawyer for an advance directive, living will, or healthcare proxy. But a person may need legal help for special circumstances and power of attorney. The National Institute on Aging has an easy-to-follow checklistTrusted Source to help a person make legal and financial plans now for their healthcare in the future.

End-of-life planning involves forethought to ensure that a person receives healthcare treatment consistent with their wishes and preferences, should they be unable to make their own decisions or speak for themselves. It can require people to answer specific and difficult questions about death and dying. Questions a person may want to consider include:

• Do I need or have a will?
• Does my family know where I keep my important papers?
• Do I have life insurance or money set aside for burial, cremation, or funeral expenses?
• How and where do I wish to die if I have a choice?
• Do I want lifesaving measuresTrusted Source if or when they become necessary?
• Is palliative care right for me?
• How do I want my body handled after my death?
• Do I have social media accounts that need closure?
• Do I want to donate my organs or my body?
• Do I want a death announcement or an obituary? What do I want in it?
• What sort of memorial do I want, if any?