Summary of July End-of-Life Planning Panel Discussion with Age Friendly Seattle
The Civic Coffee end-of-life planning panel hosted by Age Friendly Seattle was a wonderful and insightful discussion. The conversation facilitated by the moderator covered questions that addressed planning strategies and legal documents as a means to providing structure for financial and health care decisions when facing end-of-life challenges. The panel conversation also covered other strategies that are paramount to shaping the lives to clients and families by approaching every situation as unique, including but not limited to the culturally sensitive factors that those with immigrant family backgrounds with large extended families may face. We also covered my personal experience as the daughter of an immigrant mother and how this experience has provided a framework in terms of how I facilitate support and perspective in meeting client needs and wishes.
As part of my summary of the panel discussion, I also cannot stress enough that estate planning is not only for those who are wealthy. You do not need a big family or a lot of money to benefit from having an estate plan in place. Regardless of your economic status, estate planning is important, and I truly believe that everyone is entitled to end-of-life planning documentation and support. I am personally dedicated to connecting with marginalized and underserved communities and providing an estate planning framework that meets the unique needs of every client that comes through my door.
Additionally, I want to stress how it is important to not procrastinate when planning for the future, as well as the urgency in updating an estate plan to make sure that it is in accordance with your wishes so that the right person is designated to help with medical decisions and ensure that finances are properly handled, especially when faced with a life changing diagnosis. It is important to make sure that you are empowered by having legal documentation in place because estate planning allows your voice to be heard in writing so that what you want is expressed. I recognize how having these documents can help manage family relationships, especially during a sensitive time when these relationships could become strained and exacerbated by negative communication. As an estate planner, I can help provide the legal structure that may be needed to help manage these challenges during the end-of-life process.
Lastly, culturally diverse estate planning helps allow different voices to speak on sensitive issues and wishes. I understand from personal experience that some cultures refrain from openly speaking about death but other cultures are more comfortable having these open conversations. As I mentioned at the panel, I am sensitive to many of these cultural and religious influences, and I want to provide support in the estate planning context by help those struggling with these challenges navigate a new and different pathway going forward.
To view a further recap on the July Civic Coffee panel discussion on end-of-life planning, please visit the article that is featured on the Aging and Disability Services or AgeWise King County webpage.
