By Connie Holden, RN, MSN-Cofounder, The Conversation Project in Boulder County
Death is not a subject most Americans care to day-dream about. However, a recent Pew Research Center survey does show that 37% of us claim to have given a great deal of thought to their own wishes about end-of life care. That’s up from 28% in 1990! Thirty five percent report having put their wishes in writing. During a recent presentation at the First Presbyterian Church, about 80% of the 120 attendees declared that they had completed some kind of written directive. (No surprise, this audience is more affluent and educated than the general public.) However, only half of that audience reported having shared their documents with the people who are designated as their decision-makers. And only a dozen people raised their hand when asked “have you had a “meaningful” conversation with your family members about your wishes”?
Those of us who have been at the bedside when end- of-life care decisions are being made, know that these situations are made more difficult when the wishes of a critically ill patient are not known. Even when those wishes are documented, family tensions can mount -either if these wishes are first revealed in a moment of crisis or if it is not clear what the person would have meant by their directives in this situation.
The Conversation Project in Boulder County is hoping to change that by “fostering meaningful and effective conversations about end-of-life care. Modeled after the initiative created by Boston Globe author and columnist, Ellen Goodman, members of the Boulder County project would like to speak to groups, large and small, to spread to message about the importance of having these critical conversations. Our volunteer “coaches” are available to help individuals, couples and families who need support in broaching this difficult subject. Contact us at our website or 303.442.0436, ext 133.