The family is all gathered together for the holidays. Everyone is happy and healthy. Now is the time to bring up those sticky topics no one likes to think about. Because when no one is ill, it is exactly the time to have this talk. There are no impending circumstances or decisions to be made, no stress, and no worry.

Ask everyone what their health care wishes are. If needed, where do they want to live? How far should care go in an end-of-life situation? Who do you want making these decisions for you?

Where are all of your important papers and who has access to them? Do you have a current will, living will, durable power of attorney? These are the basic legal documents that allow others to act on your behalf.

Have you made final arrangements? Not everyone in your family may have the same idea as to final resting places or procedures.

My Father passed away at the age of 50 of a sudden heart attack. My family was not prepared. We did have this very discussion a number of years later when we were all gathered for my Daughter’s Bat Mitzvah. It is a tough, but necessary conversation.

disclosures:http://www.hechteffect.net/?page_id=31