Raven’s Call: Aging & End of Life Guide in Oregon

There comes a time when we begin to consider that life may not always be smooth sailing.

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We may get ill. We may become injured in a way that keeps us from continuing as we have been living.

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How do we face this new view of our future? What can be set in place now so that later can be easier? So we won't have to scramble to figure out a new kind of life in the midst of big change?

And what of our parents, or other people we care about who might need to lean on us as they age?

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What can we do to help them and us be ready for when that occurs?

SERVICES I OFFER

Together, we create a customized plan for your needs as they change.

I provide you with information about the kinds of preparation that's possible to set things up for smoother aging, an easier last illness, and support for you and those who care for you toward and at the end of your life.

I will help as much or as little as you want.

Far in advance

• Identifying your support systems.

• Choosing and understanding useful documents.

• Advance care planning assistance: Oregon Health Care Representative, Oregon Advance Directive, Oregon Appointment of Person to make arrangements for final disposition, prompts and interviews to help you create your will, and other paperwork. Not legal advice.

• How to talk with others about your wishes, values, plans.

• Help with starting to acknowledge that you're living in a mortal body.

• Life review and legacy project(s).

Upon diagnosis of a serious illness

• Gathering your support systems: medical, practical, emotional, existential/spiritual.

• Identifying what may be needed to face this illness.

• How to use this illness to prepare for your last one.

• Review and update documents.

• How to talk with others about being seriously ill.

• Emotional and existential support related to facing physical impermanence.

• Suggestions to get the information you want from your doctor and any hospital teams you might work with - beforehand or at the time of need.

Upon diagnosis of a life-threatening illness

• Exploration of supportive medical care and other optional medical and noon-medical choices.

• Education and resources so you and those around you will be more comfortable with your last months, weeks, days, and hours.

• Suggestions to get the information you want from your medical professionals, and any hospital, palliative care, or hospice teams you might work with - beforehand or at the time of need.

• Preparing important information that will be needed after the death, such as notifying key people, writing an obituary, etc.

• Considering various forms of farewells: individual, gatherings - in person, recorded, etc.

• Comparing choices for “final disposition” (what happens to your body).

• Deciding whether to use a funeral home or have a home funeral - or both.

• Grief exploration: preparatory and anticipatory.

• Support for existential / spiritual / religious concerns.

• Arranging for ritual desires or needs.

Information and support for adult children of aging parents

• How to approach your parent(s) about getting their affairs in order.

• Addressing a parent's reluctance to talk about these subjects.

• Preparing yourself to talk about your parent's personal information and to consider that they won't always be alive.

• Identifying useful documents.

• Gathering lists of important people and organizations in your parent’s life so you can do all this at a distance, if needed, or while you continute to live your own life.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and to think about what kinds of care you might want from me. These difficult subjects can be made easier with my experienced help.

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Whether you want to meet in person on the south Oregon coast, or via phone / Zoom / FaceTime throughout the rest of Oregon, I look forward to connecting with you to explore the options.

~ Marcella