Talking about your advance care directive with your loved ones will make life — and death — easier later on.. Instead of talking about politics around the Thanksgiving table this year, consider a less fraught topic: death.. It’s something few of us want to think about, but death is a fact of life that we will all encounter, often first as a caregiver and then, inevitably, when we reach our own.. As uncomfortable as it can be, discussing what medical care you want to receive at the end of your life is “one of the most loving things” you can do for your family, said Dr. Jennifer Gabbard, the director of the Palliative Medicine Research Program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.. Understanding your wishes ahead of time can make difficult decisions a little easier on your loved ones and comfort them in knowing that they’re doing the right thing.. These discussions aren’t just for people in their golden years, either. If you’re young and healthy, you can frame it as an “in case I get hit by a bus” conversation, said Omni Kitts Ferrara, the director of education at the International End-of-Life Doula Association.. Death is a fraught topic, so it’s worth thinking about how to make these conversations less stressful for your family and friends. Here’s a framework for what to cover.. We are having trouble retrieving the article content.. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.. Thank you for your patience while we verify access.. Already a subscriber? Log in.. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
