End-of-Life Planning: A Practical Guide to Your Final Chapter
When most people think about planning, they imagine things like weddings, holidays, or even retirement. But one of the most meaningful plans you can make, is often overlooked: an end-of-life plan.
An end-of-life plan is not the same as an Advance Care Directive—though it can include one. Think of it as a broader guide to your wishes. Just as a birth plan outlines preferences for welcoming a baby, an end-of-life plan outlines your preferences for saying goodbye.
What Can an End-of-Life Plan Include?
Your plan is personal to you, but some common elements are:
Location – Would you prefer to be at home, in a hospice, or in hospital?
People – Who would you like by your side? Who would you want making decisions if you couldn’t?
Type of care – Do you want all possible medical treatments, or would you prefer to cease treatment and be kept comfortable?
Atmosphere – Music, rituals, readings, or spiritual support that would bring you peace.
Legacy wishes – How you’d like to be remembered, from letters to loved ones to funeral preferences.
These details may seem small, but together they create a clear picture of what matters most to you.
Why Create a Plan?
The value of an end-of-life plan goes beyond the paperwork. It’s about the clarity and comfort it brings.
For you – peace of mind knowing your wishes are clarified and documented.
For your loved ones – relief from the burden of making difficult decisions in the middle of grief.
For your care team – guidance that helps them support you in ways that reflect your values.
Families who have an end-of-life plan often describe it as a gift. It eases emotional strain at a particularly difficult time, and ensures choices are made with love rather than uncertainty.
Support Along the Way
Making these decisions doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. As an end-of-life doula, my role is to provide both practical structure and gentle support. Together, we can explore what matters most to you, step by step, and put your wishes into words that your loved ones and care team can follow.
Planning in this way isn’t about dwelling on death. It’s life-affirming and about living with intention right to the end—and creating a final chapter that honours your wishes and that reflects the life you’ve lived.
💬 If you’d like support creating your end-of-life plan, I’d love to walk beside you in this process.
To find out more, call Melanie on 0406 622 091 or contact Melanie here.
September 2025