To-do lists helpful tools for anyone. 

• Weed your garden. 
• Buy more cat food. 
• Sort the mail. 

Fears are important to process. 

• Why you’re stressed about your job. 
• Why you feel disconnected from your children or parents.
• What happens after we die. 

While most people can sort out their goals and fears using a to-do list or a journal, it is important for someone nearing the end of their life to outline their goals and fears while they still can. 

But why? 

The Importance of Outlining Goals

For a person who is nearing the end of life, one of the most common hardships to face, especially if they’re younger, is the feeling that they have not accomplished all of their goals. Though summiting Mount Everest or running a marathon may be out of the realm of feasible possibility for someone with a terminal prognosis, there may be smaller goals that may be possible. These can range from reconnecting with an old friend to wanting to die at home instead of in a hospital. 

Knowing the goals of a dying loved one or having your goals known can provide immense emotional relief and direction when communication becomes more difficult. 

The Importance of Outlining Fears

If goals are what you would like to do or happen, fears are what you wish to avoid. Outlining your fears or getting a dying loved one to outline their fears, though challenging, can be immensely rewarding for all involved. Not only can expressing these fears keep them from becoming bottled up, but it also allows them to be examined clearly. At times, simply expressing a fear is half of the battle of conquering it. Entering the end of life with as few fears as possible can ease the emotional burden not only on the dying individual but for all of those involved. 

How to Outline Goals & Fears

Outlining goals and fears does not have to be complicated. If the person can still write, they may find that writing them down by hand can be immensely cathartic. If they can no longer write, you can choose to simply sit with them and ask them about their goals and fears in a conversational manner, writing them down as you go. You may also choose to record the conversation with audio or video, but make sure to do so with their permission to preserve their trust. Make sure to explain that them outlining their goals and fears is simply a way of getting to know them even better so that you can provide the best care possible. 

Professional Hospice Care in Tulsa, Oklahoma

In the pursuit of extending your options, we’re here to help. If you or a loved one will need or is in need of professional hospice care, look no further than Cura HPC Hospice & Palliative Care.