My Way Cards for Natural Dying, including a personalized Living Will

After you sort the cards, send your results to Caring Advocates (a non-profit organization) to receive by mail, your Natural Dying--Living Will. Show it to your physician, your proxy/agent, and your loved ones, as you discuss your end-of-life treatment decisions so they know what you want.

You can lend your set of cards to others so they can make their own end-of-life decisions in advance. Their wishes can be memorialized by ordering their own personalized Natural Dying--Living Will from the Caring Advocates website.

The Natural Dying--Living Will that results from sorting My Way Cards is importantly unique: It is the only Living Will (to the author's knowledge) that lets you give your informed consent to these two most feared end-of-life scenarios:

My Way Cards are for any kind of end-stage dementia--whether Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, vascular, or other. My Way Cards are also for any terminal illness and to avoid the burdens of non-beneficial (''futile'') medical treatment.

Living Wills can be GIFTS that your loved ones will really appreciate. Knowing for sure what treatment you DO, or do NOT want in specific medical/mental conditions can lead to their suffering less anxiety, stress, depression, and guilt, as well as reduce conflict among members of your family.

How it works: You consider the item on each card, one-at-a-time. The descriptions average 23 plain words and use almost no medical terms. Each item is illustrated by a line drawing to improve understanding. The items cover the symptoms, losses of function, unwanted behaviors, and conflicts with lifelong values commonly experienced in Advanced Dementia and other terminal illnesses.

Important: Sorting My Way Cards not only prevents prolonged dying; it can also prevent premature dying. Selecting certain cards can prevent your future decision-makers from refusing treatment you would want. Also, by your selecting the criteria you want for Natural Dying, you are also saying, ''Try to keep me alive until I meet those criteria.'' The book, Peaceful Transitions (2nd Ed., 2011) includes an essay by a priest/bioethicist who explains why choosing Natural Dying can, in some circumstances, be consistent with Catholic teaching.

Urgent: You must make your end-of-life decisions while you are still ''competent'' for this task. ''Capacity'' can vanish suddenly from an automobile accident or stroke, as well as slowly from dementia.

Yes, it may take a little longer to sort My Way Cards diligently. Do you feel it is worth the effort? Consider what is at stake: How long and how much you may have to suffer before you die.

While thinking about death and dying may not be pleasant, investing a reasonable amount of time and effort now can give you extra peace of mind that you have an effective strategy in place. Then you can enjoy the rest of your life