Lifestyle

5 Ways to Prepare Yourself for the Death of a Loved One  

Coping With the Unexpected Death of a ParentThe death of a loved one is difficult. While everyone understands the problems faced by those who have already lost family, it can be more difficult to cope when the person you care about is soon to pass. If you are preparing for such an event, you should make sure to enter counseling, begin meeting with an estate attorney, and visit him or her while there is still time.

Enter Counseling

Losing a loved one is a major psychological blow, and one that you may not be prepared to face on your own. Many hospitals and hospice care facilities like Cornerstone Hospice and Palliative Care offer at least some form of counseling before your loved one enters care. There are also a variety of support groups for survivors provided by both psychological centers and institutions of faith. You may also want to begin speaking to a grief counselor, even if your loved one has not yet passed – your grieving process may already be beginning, and you deserve help.

Begin Meeting with an Estate Attorney

If you are the executor of your family member’s estate, it is time for you to begin meeting with your family’s estate attorney. You will need to know what your responsibilities may be, as well as any outstanding debts that will have to be taken care of by the estate. It is a good idea to begin speaking to this attorney about funeral planning at this time, as well, as you need to know whether the estate has sufficient assets to prepare for the final celebration of your loved one’s life.

Visit

It may seem like the obvious choice, but visiting a loved one who is ill is perhaps the best way to prepare for his or her impending death. A larger percentage of family members fail to visit loved ones before they actually pass away. Then you might imagine, leading to missed opportunities and life-long regrets. If the family member who is dying is closely related to you, you may be able to take time off of work under the Family and Medical Leave Act, a federal law. Make sure to talk to your human resources department to learn whether your loved one qualifies.

You still have time to meet with your loved one. Don’t let the opportunities that you have today pass you by. You need to begin to prepare for the inevitable while still paying attention to what you have today.

 

Karla Urwitz
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