{"id":703,"date":"2019-01-26T20:47:28","date_gmt":"2019-01-26T20:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/activeseniorsclub.co.uk\/?p=703"},"modified":"2019-01-26T20:50:56","modified_gmt":"2019-01-26T20:50:56","slug":"we-need-to-talk-about-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/activeseniorsclub.co.uk\/we-need-to-talk-about-death\/","title":{"rendered":"Why It Is Important To Talk About Death (And How To Go About It)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most of us are comfortable or at least we\u2019ve made peace with growing old.<\/p>\n

We can openly talk about our retirement years, enjoying our sunset years travelling, playing with grandchildren and dealing with old age health challenges.<\/p>\n

But we stop short of death. Whether it\u2019s our parents or partners, not many people are comfortable talking about it and its implications.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s understandable \u2013 no one want to imagine their loved one dying \u2013 it\u2019s nevertheless problematic.<\/p>\n

It makes someone\u2019s death harder on everyone. And not just emotionally but also financially and logistically.<\/p>\n

End of Life Planning<\/h2>\n

One reason to talk about death is end of life planning. There are so many things to decide and numerous decisions to be made.<\/p>\n

Who will have the power of attorney? Who will make a major healthcare decision if the person is unable to? Is the family financially ready to handle all burial arrangements?<\/p>\n

That last one is especially important to avoid leaving your loved ones struggling.<\/p>\n

Discuss your options regarding funeral insurance to cover some of the costs. Also consider whether you need to start saving up for expenses not covered by an insurance policy.<\/p>\n

This is also the time to check whether you are eligible for any funeral benefits (you can get help with funeral costs if you are already receiving other kinds of benefits).<\/p>\n

Another advantage of planning early is that you can make your preferences known. Not just preferences regarding the funeral but also end of life care.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019d prefer getting at-home care rather than going to a hospital or maybe you want a say over the choice of medical treatment.<\/p>\n

Making a Will<\/h2>\n

Making a will is in itself accepting that death is around the corner. That\u2019s why many people find it difficult to get started.<\/p>\n

But as with end of life planning, a will makes things so much easier for the bereaved family. It reduces the risk of quarrels and ensures your wishes are executed.<\/p>\n

And even if you don\u2019t have many assets, a will is still important. As long as you are leaving behind some assets, make a will.<\/p>\n

It also helps deal with things like credit card debt, mortgage and any pending bank loans<\/a> in case you die before they are cleared.<\/p>\n

These days it\u2019s really easy to prepare a will. There are plenty of companies that will help you do it all on the phone, meaning you don\u2019t have to travel up and down.<\/p>\n

Remember to update your will every few years. For minor changes, you can just add amendments but they must be signed and witnessed.<\/p>\n

For major changes, prepare a new will and destroy the old one.<\/p>\n