Frequently asked questions about end-of-life (EOL)

People are often reluctant to talk about the EOL period, which often means talking about death. EOL Blueprint Advisors offers answers to some frequently asked questions to help you ease into developing, documenting, and communicating your EOL Blueprint.

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  • There isn’t a single definition for the end-of-life (or EOL) period. At EOL Blueprint Advisors, we consider the EOL period to begin in the final 18-36 months of life.

  • It is never too early to start planning for your EOL period. For many Americans, the last 18-36 months of life are characterized by declining health, and changes in economic or residential circumstances. Being clear on what you want now, will make it easier for you and your loved ones to cherish the last moments of your life. We’ve also found that people who do the work of planning for the end, typically live lives with more meaning, no matter when they die.

  • Eligibility for hospice typically requires that a person has been given a diagnosis of six (6) months or fewer to live. For many people, by the time they are referred to hospice, it is too late to develop, document, and communicate an EOL plan. By completing your EOL blueprint now, you’ll be ready for a more meaningful hospice experience, whenever it happens.

  • It is possible that talking about your death—particularly if you don’t have a plan—may be distressing for your loved ones. There are many reasons for this: cultural, ethnic, psychosocial, religious/spiritual, and even superstitious. EOL Blueprint Advisors can help you create plan that compassionately addresses these potential concerns to help make this an easier discussion for you and your loved ones.

  • Congratulations on being so far ahead of the game! (Did you know only 32% of Americans have a will, according to Caring.com’s 2024 Wills and Estate Planning Survey).

    These documents are an important part of managing the administrative portion of your EOL period. Other components of your EOL blueprint may include a legacy document that helps tell the story of you and your life, pre-made memorial service plans, and a communication plan.

  • In a word, no. Financial and estate planning services requires certified and licensed individuals with expertise in these fields. EOL Blueprint Advisors can help you find professionals who can assist with these tasks, but does not deliver these services directly.

  • Inadequate planning and communication with loved one contributes to an EOL period that may be characterized by: 

    • Feelings of powerlessness for the aging person, who may have decisions made for them, rather than with them, regarding medical care, housing, and other aspects of daily living. 

    • Feelings of distress, often a result of unresolved emotions about actions taken in one's life, as well as those not taken. 

    • Social alienation for the aging person, which often results from people's discomfort facing the EOL period. The inability to know what to say to someone at the end of life, combined with the desire to protect an aging person from their reality (or the aging person's desire to not be a "burden" on their loved ones) contributes to a loss of communication and social interaction. Social alienation may be exacerbated if the person at EOL has a condition that leads to restrictions on social interactions (e.g., mobility concerns, limited speech, poor hearing). 

    • Financial burdens, which can include: 

      • Lack of resources to carry out one's EOL wishes (e.g., home caregivers).

      • Debt for survivors following death (e.g., unplanned funeral and related expenses, acquisition of a loved one’s personal debt, loss of personal income as a result of caretaking responsibilities).

      • Loss of wages associated with taking unpaid time off to care for a loved one.

      • Legal fees required to untangle a loved one's financial affairs following death.

    • Legal burdens, which can include probate of the loved one's estate, which can take several years and end up costing the survivors at least 10% of the estate, without accounting for unpaid financial obligations.

  • A good EOL experience is one in which the person feels satisfied with their life, has a clearly articulated plan for managing EOL choices, and they and their loved ones are comfortable with the process of letting go at time of death. Facilitating a good EOL process typically includes: : 

    • Clearly documented financial, legal, and medical wishes.

    • Autonomy in the aging and dying process. 

    • Safe expression of the full range of emotions. 

    • Clearly expressed legacy.

     These conditions—which are unique to the individual— create the environment for the aging person and their loved ones to honor and recognize the life and legacy of the aging person. They have the secondary benefit of reducing the possibility of surviving loved ones experiencing complicated or prolonged grief.

  • If only it were that easy! Behavior change is a complicated process that is often unique to the individual, their culture, and their experiences. EOL Blueprint Advisors can offer you a short consultation to help you consider ways to talk about this process with people you love. Please contact us to discuss this option.

  • Life review is the process of thoughtfully looking back on one’s life to catalogue the moments of success and satisfaction, as well as those moments where you may have missed the mark. Life review helps a person and their loved ones understand their life has had impact and meaning. It also lays the groundwork for completing “unfinished business” that a person may wish to accomplish before the end of their life. Life review doesn’t need to wait until EOL; one can engage in EOL at any time.

  • Complicated or prolonged grief is a disabling condition that may occur when someone experiences the death of a close loved one with whom they have significant and unresolved thoughts or feelings. Creating, documenting, and sharing you EOL blueprint may help prevent complicated grief for the people left behind by your death.

  • Data security and HIPAA compliance are of utmost importance, to ensure the security of your personally identifying information (PII) and protected health information (PHI). EOL Blueprint Advisors has a full suite of data privacy policies and tools in place to provide assurances and accountability to client data security. This includes:

    • HIPAA-compliant communication tools—including email, telephone services, video callings, and client management database—are in place. 

    • Corporate policies to ensure alignment with HIPAA policies and 42 CFR Part 2 subpart B, as directed by the National Association of Social Workers' Legal Defense practice guidelines.

    • Client data security agreement, which help ensure clients understand and agree to EOL Blueprint Advisor's privacy, security, and breach notification policies.