Death is a scary thing to think about. It’s even scarier when you have to think about it in the context of someone you love.
You may think you have all the time in the world to make decisions about healthcare and end-of-life care, but there is no telling how long they will be alive. A person can go from being completely healthy one day to having a terminal illness the next.
The COVID-19 pandemic truly revealed how unpredictable death could be. The deadly pandemic caused more than 1 million deaths in the United States alone. In addition, the pandemic caused more than 267,000 deaths in 2022, according to early estimates from Johns Hopkins University.
In such an environment where worse things can happen anytime, it’s always better to be prepared than to be caught off guard when tragedy strikes.
Get the Life Support Equipment Ready
When your loved one is at death’s door, you want to make sure that you have all the life support equipment ready.
Life support equipment can be complicated, and it’s easy to forget what you need. But if you’ve got all of the equipment ready before your loved one gets sick or injured, then there’s no need to rush around trying to figure things out.
If your loved one has a condition that requires a machine or device, such as an oxygen tank or wheelchair, then make sure that it’s in working order, charged up with power and/or batteries, and ready to go when it’s needed most.
The market for life support equipment will expand at a growth rate of about 7.20% between 2021 to 2028, predicts Data Bridge Market Research. This figure indicates a growing need for this kind of equipment, which means more people are getting the help they need when their loved ones are at death’s door.
Prepare for Cemetery
You may feel a bit overwhelmed when your loved one is at death’s door. You’re trying to process this new reality, and that can take a lot of energy. Plus, you’re probably trying to comfort your loved one in any way you can, and that takes up even more energy.
But there are some things you can do ahead of time to make sure your loved one’s final wishes are respected and honored. Among these things comes the cemetery preparation.
Many people tend not to think about what will happen after they die, but they should. Preparing for the cemetery is an important part of honoring your loved one’s final wishes. Today, more and more Americans are using cemetery services to respect and honor their loved ones.
According to Statista, the US cemetery services market would touch $5.8 billion in 2022, indicating that Americans are increasingly aware of the importance of preparing for burial.
It’s also important because when your loved one passes away, it’s likely that family members will feel overwhelmed with grief, and making decisions about what happens next may seem overwhelming at first. That’s why it’s good to get everything ready beforehand, so everyone knows what their role is going forward.
Another thing you should consider when preparing for the cemetery is buying headstones before your loved one passes away so they have something beautiful and meaningful by which to remember them. You can even customize these headstones as per the wishes and interests of the deceased.
You can buy customized headstones from here. If you want something more personalized, you can also buy a custom-engraved granite headstone with the image of your loved one engraved on it. This will help you remember them every time you visit their grave site.
Make Sure Legal Documents Are in Order
Making sure legal documents are in order when your loved one is at death’s door is a very important step to take.
The first thing you will need is your loved one’s social security number, birth certificate, and death certificate. These documents will be required for the probate process.
The next step would be to identify whether your loved one has left any will so that you can know where his possessions will go. You can do this by asking close family members or looking at their will. If they don’t have a will, you will need to find someone close enough to them to make decisions on their behalf.
Once you have identified who should inherit your loved one’s assets, you can begin making arrangements with them so that they can start taking care of themselves financially after their passing. This includes making sure there are no outstanding debts owed by your loved one’s estate and setting up an estate plan that outlines how all property should be distributed among heirs.
Ask About Their Last Wish
When your loved one is at death’s door, it’s important to ask them about their last wish.
Why? Because it gives them the opportunity to make a choice about how they want to spend their final days. It also allows you and the rest of your family to plan for what will happen after they pass away.
You can even have a discussion about funeral arrangements and other details so that everyone has time to consider what sort of service or celebration would be most meaningful for them.
You don’t want your loved one feeling rushed or pressured when they’re in this fragile state, so take the time to listen carefully and understand what they want.
Summing Up
When your loved one is at death’s door, it’s important to have a plan.
The best way to prepare for this difficult time is to have a plan in place and be ready to act on it. The last thing you want is to be caught off guard when the worst happens.
The tips in this article will help you prepare yourself, your loved ones, and your home for the loss of someone who is close to you.
