Chapter 1: Conversations about the future
Difficult decisions
She didn’t really want to know about all the details of things anymore
and she asked me to look after those. She wanted to keep her energy and efforts for spending time with the kids and talking to them.
Sometimes families assume that the person who is ill wishes to remain the central decision-maker for as long as they choose or are able. However, it is important to have a conversation with them to confirm whether this is what they want or to establish
other arrangements. How much do they want to be involved in decisions? Which decisions?
There may be other situations and different reasons the person who is ill does not make all the decisions. Click the arrows below for some examples.
They may not want to be involved in any of the decision-making.
They may not want to be involved in certain decisions, such as financial decisions, because doing so requires a genuine acceptance of their condition.
They may not want to know about their illness.
In some cultures, the family takes over decision-making.
In Indigenous kinship systems, many people may be involved in the decision-making process.
It is important for the person who is ill to decide who will make decisions on their behalf if it becomes necessary. Even if a family member is responsible for providing unpaid care, other family members will likely need to be included in important decisions.
