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OUR VIEW: Act now, not later in life

Caring for a loved one near the end of their life can be a complicated matter

Caring for a loved one near the end of their life can be a complicated matter. There are issues on the table surrounding the cost of care — and just who is going to provide that care — as well as the inevitable family issues that sometimes arise to make the situation untenable.

In today’s edition of the PNR, our Seniors in Focus pages includes the work of local writer Donna Randall who has collected her own experiences into a resource for others navigating these waters.

Randall’s Essential Family Caregiving Agreement is described as a guide for families through the aging and death of a parent figure. Randall discusses in the article the need for wills, financial planning and in her publication, agreements between family members when the care become difficult and the end of life draws nigh.

Death is something everyone has to face, whether that be one’s own demise or that of a loved one. How they handle it will vary and emotion will play a big role. It’s here where families could break apart or long grievances gain a foothold. Documents like Randall’s work help direct people through the potential mine fields of providing care at the end of life. It certainly isn’t easy for families to witness the loss of loved ones, so having established plans can keep them on track.

It’s sometimes hard to answer questions like who will be providing care to parents as they grow older. Often, people find it easier to put off the inevitable and procrastinate. This will only backfire in the long term.

While having resources such as this is excellent, it takes courage to work through these issues now while you still can.

Leaving end of life care decision to the last minute can only cause unnecessary stress to a family and to the people charged with carrying most of the responsibility.