Breathe. You are not alone.

Stay in the present moment. What is now is what is important.

Contact legal advice you trust for estate planning (don’t have your own? Click here for a list of estate planners assembled by the Care Options Network, a local non-profit hub for resources.

Invite one of our lovely volunteers to help you create a legacy project - maybe do an oral history, or make a scrapbook, or capture an audio recording of stories for grandchildren.

Collect, perhaps share passwords for devices

Collect titles, insurance polices, bank account information

Think about gifting personal possessions, telling the stories behind sentimental treasures

Consider pre-planning, pre-paying funeral services

Consider where you might like to be buried, or scatter ashes. Ponder what sort of gathering your loved ones might most appreciate. Plan ahead to whatever degree feels best to you.

Breathe. You will have help.

Stay present to your self, your body, those you love.

Your funeral home will help you with the details like the obituary, death certificates, etc. And we are always here to help as well.

Dispose of or return any unused medications or medical equipment.

Consider attending a grief group, faith practice, or other communal support system.

Their book offers everything from step-by-step instructions for how to do your paperwork and navigate the healthcare system to answers to questions you might be afraid to ask your doctor, like whether or not sex is still okay when you’re sick. There are also lessons for survivors, like how to shut down a loved one’s social media accounts, clean out the house, and write a great eulogy.