Throughout all life stages, it is important to acknowledge and celebrate the changes that accompany aging. Family and Consumer Sciences Extension help individuals, families, and communities manage the challenges and discover the positive aspects of life transitions and growing older.  To address some of these issues within Grant County, the Grant County Family and Consumer Sciences and Agriculture Programs collaborated with Bluegrass Navigators, and other local agencies and businesses to have Families start the discussion on end of life care.  

Starting as the national “Conversation Project” initiative, the ending well program invites families, individuals, and agencies to come together to begin the discussion on end of life care.  This includes not only estate planning, but also planning for the many “what if’s” that happen at the end of life including:  Developing realistic views of life extending measures, advanced care planning, and living wills.  

There was a panel of experts including doctors and lawyers available to discuss a variety of scenarios, ensuring that the participants were able to get the most up to date information straight from the experts.  

At the end of the seminar, 73% had a better understanding of a living will, 82% of participants had a better understanding of advanced care planning, and 90% felt more comfortable about beginning to identify health care needs and communicating with their loved ones.   One participant responded, “I was able to get some good conversation starters, so I can begin to plan for my aging parents.  It will never be a comfortable conversation, but I feel better equipped to start the conversation.”