tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post5998176766298315091..comments2024-03-27T13:22:58.455-07:00Comments on Eye on the Edge: Line in the sandDJanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07152183871573797791noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-80927573394487987882015-06-26T09:53:03.303-07:002015-06-26T09:53:03.303-07:00Hi, DJan - It's been a long time since I'v...Hi, DJan - It's been a long time since I've looked at your blog....and here you are delving into end-of-life issues - right where I've been hanging out for quite a while. Presently, I'm in the middle of facilitating the second "being with Dying" 5-week series of conversations. Living wills and powers of attorney and pre-planned memorial services are part of the conversations, but most important is identifying what is still incomplete in their relationships with family, friends, and themselves. Creating a structure and curriculum that supports folks in lessening their fears and controllling those things that can be controlled has been of great satisfaction.....With your permission I would add this blog entry as one of their homework assignments.<br />Old age isn't all bad, eh?<br />PennyPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10004497277347402564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-40909280506420280592015-06-26T09:51:43.957-07:002015-06-26T09:51:43.957-07:00Hi, DJan - It's been a long time since I'v...Hi, DJan - It's been a long time since I've looked at your blog....and here you are delving into end-of-life issues - right where I've been hanging out for quite a while. Presently, I'm in the middle of facilitating the second "being with Dying" 5-week series of conversations. Living wills and powers of attorney and pre-planned memorial services are part of the conversations, but most important is identifying what is still incomplete in their relationships with family, friends, and themselves. Creating a structure and curriculum that supports folks in lessening their fears and controllling those things that can be controlled has been of great satisfaction.....With your permission I would add this blog entry as one of their homework assignments.<br />Old age isn't all bad, eh?<br />PennyPennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10004497277347402564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-41830552216585720652015-06-22T20:41:26.108-07:002015-06-22T20:41:26.108-07:00As we contemplate our own mortality...sobering, fo...As we contemplate our own mortality...sobering, for sure. Necessary, definitely.Trish and Rob MacGregorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02846270474176860924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-21699862862701188922015-06-17T07:31:13.317-07:002015-06-17T07:31:13.317-07:00Hi DJan, “Line in the Sand” is a somber and yet ex...Hi DJan, “Line in the Sand” is a somber and yet excellent post I would recommend to anyone who has reached the status of being a “senior.” Different folks have different interpretations of that and, of course, open to various interpretations. I’m there and definitely need to give some serious thought to the things you’ve mentioned. I appreciate the way you give us things to consider and a link to WAHA to view their forms. Some of those questions are extremely tough. Hard work now will be a godsend to folks taking care of us later. Actually, on second thought, even those who haven’t yet become a senior should have an “advance directive.” Thank you for this post. John's Islandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03618219887687125402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-78195380693045249192015-06-16T12:21:24.518-07:002015-06-16T12:21:24.518-07:00Ah, so you have finally done it, folded your last ...Ah, so you have finally done it, folded your last parachute and hung up your flying helmet. Well, there comes a time in the affairs of men . . . . . . .<br /><br />This is an interesting post. We have what is called ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ documents which are signed and deposited with solicitors. we give this power of say about us to a person or persons of our choice in respect of financial and other arrangements should we no longer be able to make decisions ourselves, for reasons of dementia, for instance.<br /><br />Then we also have a ‘Living Will’ which stipulates about our end of life care and the decision to switch off a machine, say.<br /><br />My doctor signed the latter document but she said that she probably would ignore my wishes and keep me alive as long as possible. Can’t win, as the document is not legally binding, just an expression of my wishes.<br /><br />Frikohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04277167831642088694noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-39269010302396468152015-06-15T06:13:36.163-07:002015-06-15T06:13:36.163-07:00I am envious that you have found something so fulf...I am envious that you have found something so fulfilling that helps others. I have been searching for a volunteering effort that meets my needs as well as those of others, but the last place I signed for training has yet to call me back almost 6 months later!!Taborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15257045780724471840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-70237528326485563242015-06-15T02:40:40.884-07:002015-06-15T02:40:40.884-07:00Death will greet all of us. Does people no good n...Death will greet all of us. Does people no good not to discuss it and face those facts. Just makes it harder on our loved ones if the subject has been avoided...and often harder on the avoidee. I think this is something you'd be really good at. :) Ritahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02043285884495492598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-58379125110923992682015-06-14T23:58:48.689-07:002015-06-14T23:58:48.689-07:00What a wonderful next step for you, DJan! This vol...What a wonderful next step for you, DJan! This volunteerism sounds just right.<br /><br />We had a similar conference last year with an attorney and our wishes are well and truly recorded.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-89170155371970704332015-06-14T19:43:52.664-07:002015-06-14T19:43:52.664-07:00Having faced end of life decisions when my husband...Having faced end of life decisions when my husband had cancer and little chance of survival, I was so glad he and I had talked about these things. He told the doctors that I would make all decisions for him and, although it was the hardest thing I've ever done, I had to make the decision to end chemo treatments which I was told his heart would not be able to handle and he would only suffer more pain. He didn't like to talk about end of life plans, but I persisted and we had all the papers done. But in the end, I made the final decision to let him go. My older sister made her own decision to let her life end. Having lost family members who suffered in hospitals undergoing amputations, etc. that did them no good, I definitely want my family to do anything possible to help me leave this world when I cannot get well and am in pain. I think this is an important post, DJan, and one I'll share with others because we all need to take care of these matters while we are clear headed and reasonable.<br />Glenda Beallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17953170428175025248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-10207776760278783892015-06-14T16:28:45.612-07:002015-06-14T16:28:45.612-07:00We need to do this, and I hadn't thought that ...We need to do this, and I hadn't thought that there might be an organization that helps with it. Will look into that! I just read "Being Mortal," which I think I first heard about from you. It has given me much better understanding of how complicated things can be when one is at the end of life. I recognized the truth of it when I thought about my brother's recent death...health doesn't diminish on a predictable schedule, or even a predictable path. Thanks for a post that encourages me to take the next step...actually doing something about it! Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17223278142557533175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-3018327571108861902015-06-14T16:19:30.274-07:002015-06-14T16:19:30.274-07:00I'm sure everybody will find this a fascinatin...I'm sure everybody will find this a fascinating post. we've been wrestling with the same issue and of course we don't really agree. What complicates things is that these directives are complicated but when the time comes they are not very useful. If you're in an institution, the institution has it's say and with lawsuits they don't want to let anybody die on their watch. I listened to a documentary this morning where a woman had left precise instructions and is now in an almost vegetative state. She still opens her mouth when prompted by a spoon and is deemed to be aware.Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996243850279671523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-63314661665772338872015-06-14T15:38:22.245-07:002015-06-14T15:38:22.245-07:00You have written about a very important topic. It...You have written about a very important topic. It is one we all need to consider. I know I need to spend more time working on such a document as you describe. I don't want my children, my husband, or whomever might be the one to make these decisions for me, to flounder and wonder what my wishes would be. This is a kind thing to do. Jim and I have done the preliminaries of making such decisions and have drawn them up with an attorney, but we need to look at this in more depth. Thanks for taking on the hard subjects. Sally Wesselyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06470453773515491625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-78296510786546200202015-06-14T14:56:28.839-07:002015-06-14T14:56:28.839-07:00While never a "fun" topic; it is one tha...While never a "fun" topic; it is one that we all need to think about. Years ago, we went to an attorney to have our wills/health directive drawn up. I think this is something we need to re-visit soon; as circumstances and desires change over time. Have wonderful, fulfilling week.Gigihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05467164195744234746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-8102656029004270942015-06-14T14:34:31.581-07:002015-06-14T14:34:31.581-07:00DH and I went to an attorney and made out a will w...DH and I went to an attorney and made out a will with all that it entails (power of attorney and health directive)years ago. But the health directive certainly wasn't as specific as you're talking about with WAHA. And I do think that's a good idea. There are so many decisions that should be discussed before they are actually needed. <br /><br />I was talking to someone (who is a nurse) not too long ago and we were discussing hospice vs palliative care. I hadn't realized how different these 2 things were... and how they were viewed by insurance.Rianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09472421271620543536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-49859574517881746382015-06-14T13:39:59.547-07:002015-06-14T13:39:59.547-07:00Any post which makes me think falls into the uplif...Any post which makes me think falls into the uplifting category. Thank you.<br />I think two weeks might be a bit long for me. Something I need to raise with my partner - with no hopes of success since he refuses to even make a will.Elephant's Childhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06650565833097914052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-66071132685383577082015-06-14T12:43:40.057-07:002015-06-14T12:43:40.057-07:00Have you already considered making a Power of Atto...Have you already considered making a Power of Attorney? In case you are comatose or have dementia or some other condition, your husband should have the power to withdraw money from your accounts to pay for your care. Vice-versa. There are other things to consider besides banking. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-75941241274666206562015-06-14T09:21:27.581-07:002015-06-14T09:21:27.581-07:00You are where we were a few months ago when we fil...You are where we were a few months ago when we filled out our forms. It does require some thought. Two weeks seems like a long time to me...I think mine says three days...time enough to hang on and wait for a miracle to happen and time enough for your loved ones to adjust to your impending death. I felt much better after our papers were witnessed and on file at the local clinic, I also have a copy here at home.<br />I didn't find your post this morning depressing at all...it is something that everyone should think about. Have a good Sunday! :) Far Side of Fiftyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07995757632158408442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-197597102880101691.post-78885186744704946702015-06-14T07:40:38.471-07:002015-06-14T07:40:38.471-07:00DJan - Don't worry that this post isn't up...DJan - Don't worry that this post isn't uplifting. It's given me real food for thought. At several points as I read it, I thought, "Yes. That's how I would feel, too." You've set me wondering what services are here in my area. You've provided a real benefit to others with this, and it looks as though you'll be continuing that good work with your new training. Martyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02366449267039641100noreply@blogger.com