Discussing end-of-life wishes and plans can be uncomfortable, but important. According to LegalZoom (www.legalzoom.com) only about 33 percent of Americans have created estate planning documents. Additionally, more than half (52 percent) of Americans don’t know where their parents important documents are located. Understanding general money management information including transfer or payable on death, beneficiary designation, and how insurance policies work is important for individuals of all ages and can benefit end-of-life planning.

The Boone County Cooperative Extension Service held a series of programs focused on financial management for later life. The series included: “Money Talk” (a curriculum from Rutgers Extension), “Passing on Personal Possessions: Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” (a curriculum from University of Minnesota Extension), “Wills, Legal Documents, and Probate Explained” (presented by a local lawyer with support materials from University of Kentucky Extension), and “What Every Spouse (and Family) Should Know” (with materials from University of Kentucky Extension, AARP, and Utah Extension), and Money Talk (with University of Kentucky Extension Specialists presenting some sessions). Each session allowed participants to work toward developing a personal and family plan for financial management and family communication.  Worksheets and workbooks were provided to participants to help them and their loved ones plan for the future.

Sixty-three unique adult men and women from the general public participated in one or more of the sessions. Evaluations were mailed to all participants about three months after the end of the sessions. Twenty-three (37 percent) surveys were completed and returned revealing:

9 individuals had a will or other legal documents created because of what they learned in the sessions and 10 reviewed or updated their will or other important papers

74 percent organized their important papers and 70 percent talked with their family and loved ones about where to find the documents

57 percent shared their end-of-life or final wishes with their loved ones

53 percent talked with their loved ones about where their important documents are located

39 percent reviewed the beneficiaries on their accounts and policies and one-fourth of those made important changes and updates to the information

26 percent used the “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” workbook and completed the exercises

Planning for, and communicating about, one’s distribution of assets and final wishes can lead to decreased stress and better preparation by loved ones.

End-of-life discussions may never be easy but they will always be important. One individual shared “Very informative sessions and presented in an easy to understand way.” Boone County Cooperative Extension will continue to offer programs to help individuals navigate the path of planning and communicating end-of-life wishes and the documents needed.

Submitted 6/30/2023