Have you discussed the issue of End of Life preferences with your loved one?

  • Putting your house in order (Pic Diarmuid Greene)
Solicitor Sharon Cahir, Mayor of Limerick City and County Cllr Michael Sheahan, Anne Rizzo, Regional Age Friendly Programme Manager, Rebecca Lloyd, Irish Hospice Foundation, along with members of the Older People's Council. (Pic: Diarmuid Greene)

It is that topic that most people avoid talking about – End of Life. But it is an important one to discuss, especially if you have specific wishes or plans that you want carried out. What happens if a loved one becomes incapacitated? What happens when a loved one dies? Do they have special requests? What happens with their estate? Do they have a will?

These are all very important questions that need to be discussed. Limerick City and County Council and Age Friendly Limerick are helping you by hosting a series of events over the month of February 2020, called Putting Your House in Order.

Traditionally we don’t like to talk about planning for what happens in the case of a medical emergency, where a person cannot make decisions for themselves, or making known their wishes for when they die. This planning is essential so that a person’s family can plan according to their wishes, not their best guess for what the person would have wanted.

Information sessions will be held in each of the municipal districts across the county and will give advice on a range of topics under four main headings:

  • Care Preferences - Advance Healthcare Directive, Designated Healthcare Representative, Life Sustaining Treatments, CPR etc.
  • Legal - Enduring Power of Attorney, Making a Will etc.
  • Financial - Bank Accounts, Insurance, Life Assurance, Credit Cards, Tax Affairs, Pensions etc.
  • When I Die - Organ/ Body Donation, Post Mortem, Funeral and Burial Arrangements etc.

The session will be delivered in two parts, the first part will cover wills, enduring power of attorney and other legal issues, and will be delivered by a solicitor.

The second part of the event will be delivered by a representative of the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF). They will focus on the other three headings, Care Preferences, Financial and When I Die, and will guide attendees through filling out the Think Ahead book, published by the IHF.

The events are FREE but places are limited so booking is essential.

Locations and dates:

  • Thursday 06 Feb - Istabraq Hall, Limerick City and County Council, Merchants Quay, Limerick
  • Friday 07 Feb - The Woodlands House Hotel, Adare, County Limerick
  • Monday 10 Feb - The Longcourt Hotel in Newcastle West, County Limerick
  • Thursday 13 Feb - The Millennium Centre, Caherconlish, County Limerick
  • Friday 14 Feb - Istabraq Hall, Limerick City and County Council, Merchants Quay, Limerick

Registration for each event takes place from 10.30am on the particular day, with sessions beginning at 11am until 2.30pm, with a mid-point refreshment break.

For more information or to book a place at one of the events, please contact jillian.robinson@limerick.ie/asiling.waslhe at 061 557541 or aisling.walshe@limerick.ie at 061 557353.

The events are a great opportunity for people to think about what their wishes are, and it is worth pointing out that this is not limited to older people. These are matters that should be considered no matter what stage of life you are at, young parent, empty nester or older person.

See More