Opinion

Letter: Let your family know your end-of-life wishes

Posted March 12, 2022 1:00 am

In 2020 and 2021, thousands of Illinois families faced the unbearable pain of losing loved ones unexpectedly. Sadly, many of those who died did not have the opportunity to tell their loved ones what kind of treatment and support they wanted until they were in the midst of a medical crisis. In honor of Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16), I want to encourage my fellow Illinoisans to consider starting these conversations with loved ones.

An Advance Directive is a collection of documents outlining your wishes, which guides you and your loved ones through the conversation about values.

I volunteer with Compassion and Choices. Their website offers Advance Directive documentation specific to Illinois in their End of Life Toolkit-Plan Your Care Resource Center.

Please consider talking to your family about your wishes, before you are unable to.

Nancy Betker

Addison

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