Death and Incapacity Planning is the ongoing process of exploring, accepting, and preparing for all aspects of our death and incapacity. It understands death and incapacity as being integral to the human experience and aims to integrate these processes into our lives; rather than approaching death and incapacity as future events that are unconnected to our everyday experience.
An honest examination of the emotional, spiritual, practical, social, and legal aspects of death and incapacity serves to uncover opportunities for us to take action that will align us with our values, connect us to our purpose and create meaning for ourselves and others through these experiences.
Death and Incapacity Planning invites a discovery of the many actions we can take to prepare ourselves and others for change. Through this preparation, we can build connection and courage; first in ourselves and then in our loved ones and the broader community. In so doing, we transform death and incapacity from experiences of disconnection into experiences that strengthen us. When our time comes, rather than a legacy of looking back into all that could have been done and the things that were lost, we ask our community to take all that we have lovingly created and use it to make something more. Death and Incapacity Planning cultivates and nurtures the conditions that make this possible.
Death and Incapacity Planning invites us to explore a broad range of questions:
- What are your core values and how do they help you make decisions?
- How do you want to be cared for in a time of increased dependence on others?
- What would you want your dying experience to be like?
- What are the important lessons you have learned along the way that you can pass along to others?
- What is the purpose and story behind the financial gifts that will be given on your death?
- Do you have a Will, Power of Attorney for Property and Power of Attorney for Personal Care that accurately reflect your wishes today?
- What practical information would help your executor to do their job well?
- How can you help your Power of Attorney for Property know about your finances?
- Would it help others to know more about your philosophical, religious, or spiritual views?
- What could you do to help preserve the underlying purpose of your traditional gatherings?
- What can you do to help your Power of Attorney for Personal Care make the best medical decisions for you?
- What would it mean to your loved ones to receive a carefully written letter from you after your death?
- What might be the impact of sharing your story?
Death and Incapacity Planning is so much more than a Will and Powers of Attorney. Through this ongoing process of integrating death and incapacity into our lived experience, we become open to greater meaning, greater purpose and greater connection.
If you’re interested in starting your death and incapacity planning, we invite you to get in-touch with us.
