Dignity Therapy and the end of life
I recently was involved in discussions about end of life scenarios and enabling people to experience dignity as they face dying. One particular form of help uses a dignity therapy questionnaire. I find these questions difficult and quite confronting, especially the fourth:
- Tell me a little about your life history; particularly the parts that you either remember most, or think are the most important? When did you feel most alive?
- Are there specific things that you would want your family to know about you, and are there particular things you would want them to remember?
- What are the most important roles you have played in life (family roles, vocational roles, community service roles, etc)? Why were they so important to you and what do you think you accomplished in those roles?
- What are your most important accomplishments, and what do you feel most proud of?
- Are there particular things that you feel still need to be said to your loved ones, or things that you would want to take the time to say once again?
- What are your hopes and dreams for your loved ones?
- What have you learned about life that you would want to pass along to others? What advice or words of guidance would you wish to pass along to your [son, daughter,husband, wife, parents, other(s)]?
- Are there words or perhaps even instructions you would like to offer your family, to help prepare them for the future? In creating this permanent record, are there other things that you would like included?
