End of Life Goal Setting

We don’t tend to associate end of life with goal setting, and, for some people, one of the benefits of being at this stage is to never have to have any more goals ever again, which is totally valid!

However, having some clear ideas around what you do and don’t want to happen, in terms of medical treatment, but also about who you want to spend time with, if there are any places you’d like to visit, things you want to do, and working on a plan to make this happen, can be really helpful for you and those around you.

This isn’t just about your bucket list though. End of life goal setting can be about figuring out what your priorities are: to be as pain free as possible or to be completely present, or a combination? To keep going as normally as possible for as long as possible or to change things up and live differently now? Perhaps there amends to be made, people to reconnect with, or maybe you just want to keep your loved ones close at this point? How would you like the people around you to treat you? With gentle compassion or would you rather they joked around as usual? There are no rights and wrongs about any of this, just what is right for you, and exploring how you feel about these and other things can help you to clarify how you want to live now.

For the people around you, knowing your priorities and goals can help them to support you to live the rest of your life your way, and can also be invaluable in helping them to make decisions about your care later on. Your goals will underpin every step of the way forward for them, meaning they can make the choices that align with your wishes, even if you aren’t able to.

I can guide you through the process, explain options, help work out what is and isn’t possible, and suggest areas and ideas you may not have thought of yet, enabling you to come up with a plan to get the most out of the time you have left. This isn’t about drowning in goals, but about prioritising what matters most, now more than ever.