When a loved one is diagnosed with an illness, or you’re told that they might pass away, there are naturally a thousand competing thoughts running through your head. While no one can tell you the right emotional responses or the correct way to address your questions, spiritual needs, and psychological requirements, information is available that can help you with the more practical side of things.
It’s an unfortunate truth that there’s actually a lot of paperwork involved, steps that need to be organised and protocol to be followed when someone passes away.
The following will walk you through some of the things you can do or get in order to help ease some aspects of a loved one’s passing. Of course, every person is different, and this process is going to look and feel individual to everyone, but here are some steps you can take to prepare for the passing of a loved one.
First, Their Wishes
This can be a tough conversation to have, and sometimes it isn’t even possible to achieve. That said, if you know what the last wishes of your loved one are, you’ll be able to feel more secure in the decisions you are making.
As the guys at Carroll and Carroll Funerals advise, it’s wise – if possible, of course – to sensitively find out what they would like for their funeral, whether there are any arrangements that have already been made, and if there is a will made up (and where it is kept). If your loved one doesn’t have a will but they are in the right state to make one, this could be a good time to get that sorted.
If this isn’t possible because of the emotional, mental, or physical state of your loved one, that’s okay too. There are legal protocols put in place to help guide people when their loved one passes without a will in place.
Spend Time Together
This is going to look drastically different depending on the state your loved one is in and your relationship with them in the past. Do what you can, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself to hide what you’re going through. It’s okay for some of these visits to be emotional and for others to be practical, and for others to involve sitting down quietly in each other’s company and watching the game together. There are many different ways to express love, after all.
Don’t Forget To Take Care Of Yourself
This is an incredibly tough time for all involved, and it’s important that you don’t neglect your own wellbeing during this difficult period. Do your best to eat well, drink water, and sleep. Nothing can make this time easy, but you can make sure that your brain and body has all the nutrients and rest it needs to help you process your emotions and maintain adequate energy levels. Take a few days off work if you are able.
Reach Out To The People They Want To See
Get in touch with friends and family that your loved one might want to see (and who might want to see them). Of course, always check with your loved one about who they want to see before granting people access.
Think About How You’re Going To Tell The Children
Explaining the concept of death to young ones can take all of the strength you have. This is okay. Make it clear that you’re available if they have any questions, and try not to gloss over things too much because kids ask about the things that confuse them, and there might be situations where they ask at inappropriate times. There are guides online that can walk you through this process and offer tips about the best tone to take when discussing such delicate matters.
Don’t Assume They Can’t Hear you
Near the end, people can sometimes lose different senses at various points. Hearing, however, is often the least impaired. This can mean that even if your loved one isn’t responding, they might still be able to hear you. Leave things that should be said in private for another room or situation.