The Last Things We Talk About: Your Guide to End of Life Transitions

by Elizabeth T. Boatwright DMin

The Last Things We Talk About  gives readers and their loved ones the opportunity as death approaches to affirm, celebrate, and remember the people and experiences they cherish in life.
The author guides readers step-by-step through the process of making aging and death-related decisions. This includes defining personal values and wishes as well as planning for practical medical, financial, and legal considerations.
This book will help
- Identify the people, experiences, and things that are important to them and help define and celebrate what gives life meaning and purpose
- Discover and define their goals and wishes regarding transitions, support, and the legacy they wish to leave behind
- Understand important topics such as legal, financial, and medical documents, the continuum of care, and end-of-life decisions
- Find professionals to help them put together inventories for financial, legal, and practical matters
- Explore options and plan for culturally and spiritually sensitive end-of-life rituals and celebrations
- Learn what needs to be done after death and how survivors can begin to piece their lives back together

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Lew Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Things We Talk About: Your Guide to End-of-life Transitions
Elizabeth Boatwright Bull Publishing Company 2021

It is a shame that the last things we talk about are some of the most important things for ourselves and our families. As a pastor and a chaplain, I have seen too many fights over stuff. Even when there is a will sometimes the inheritors don’t like the details, but this book is a step in the right direction not just for estate planning but for setting out one’s wishes for end-of-life care.
It begins with a helpful guide for those looking for help in a specific area e.g., what pages will help when dealing with a serious/terminal diagnosis.
I began with that guide to look up areas that were of concern to me as a chaplain. Then I went through the rest of the book the look at the things I need as I face the end of my life. I am not morbid about that I just realize at my age I am closer to death than I have ever been.
Two things especially make this an important book. First, it puts almost everything we need to know about end-of-life issues in one place. I’m sure if I took the time and talked to a lot of people or visited several different offices, I could eventually come up with what I need to know or what I need to counsel someone. However, here Chaplain Boatwright has assembled all this and indexed it.
Secondly, the author shows how this information works in real life with real people. For example, she talks about how her grandmother faced transition to assisted living. Both the author and I are aware that even the best laid plans can be foiled by greed, jealousy and any number of things but not having a plan almost certainly guarantees problems.
The list of resources is invaluable, and I am sure I will be returning to this resource for myself as well as others.
I was given a proof of this book by NetGalley.com with the understanding I would read it and write an honest review. In this case I heartily recommend this book.

[Dawn Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Things We Talk About by Elizabeth T Boatwright

250 Pages
Publisher: Bull Publishing Company
Release Date: April 6, 2021

Nonfiction, Parenting & Families, Religion & Spirituality, Death & Dying

The book begins with a guide to key pages. This allows the reader to pick a section that is appropriate for a particular subject or relationship. The book is divided into the following chapters.

Chapter 1: Exploring and Expressing Meaning and Purpose
Chapter 2: Making Wishes Known to Loved Ones
Chapter 3: Talking about Health and Illness
Chapter 4: Putting Your House in Order
Chapter 5: Saying Goodbye and the Dying Process
Chapter 6: Figuring Out What Happens Next
Chapter 7: Piecing Things Back Together after Death – Conversations around Grief and Loss
Appendix: Resources
Notes

This book is necessary for all of us during these uncertain times. The topics in the book are hard to bring up but are important topics to discuss. Each chapter has a couple of quotes and sample scenarios along with a checklist. The questionnaires are important and definitely provides help and guidance to the reader. During the COVID-19 pandemic it has become important for my family to organize our final wishes and arrangements, so the responsibility does not fall on our children. The checklist of essential information and documents is complete and very handy to gather everything into one place. I highly recommend this book to everyone to relieve your families from any burdens.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Independent Publishers Group - Bull Publishing Company in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I never thought I would say this but, everyone needs to own a book like this. I have experienced so many situations where loved ones experience death unexpectedly and are not sure what to do next and if that's not enough, find out that everything will cost an arm and a leg without life insurance. Even though death is not a pleasant topic to discuss with your loved ones and family, this book makes it stress free and painless as possible so when the time comes of passing, everyone can celebrate your life and not mourn at the costs. Elizabeth Boatwright gives great tips for topics of discussion and plans to seek out the best life insurance for you and plan all of this right now even though none of you are dying. I love how this book also talks about the importance of living life and living with no regrets because despite all you have to plan for death, it's even more important to enjoy life now.

We will consider adding this title to our B Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

N my case, a very timely book. You see my brother-in-law has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer with only a short time to live. He was informed of his illness being terminal. Now he has only weeks. But more importantly, we used several aspects of this book to help all of us as we go through this journey. Being a touchy subject, nobody wanted to bring an uncomfortable subject up. Plus with family dynamics, couldn’t ring it up since I’m not an “expert”. So the book became the intermediary to lessen any awkwardness that would normally make family put an end to any discussion. Thank you Dr. Rev. Boatwright for writing such a deeply provoking, thoughtful book.
I received an advanced reader copy for free from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read this for a class that I took after my pastor asked if I would be willing to take on the education portion of out end of life ministries. even of you or someone you love is not g=facing end of life right now it gives you a lot to think about. Is you house in order? Would your loved ones know what you want and where to find important documents? Gives lot of ideas and other resources.

[Heather Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My great aunt wrote this book and it was given to me by my mom. A must ready for all those who expect to have a need to plan for the future, whether you are a child of aging parents or want to plan for yourself.l, this book is for all adults. I gifted to other family members. Helpful book with worksheets, clear explanations of "how to do" and a gentle touch addressing hard conversations.

[Sophia Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a millennial caring for her aging parents, I really appreciate this book. It's a tool kit mentally and emotionally that also gives tangible information on what to do and who to approach it.

[Susan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well thought out book about the end of life. This is a book everyone should read. It discusses everything from talking to family to estate planning.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written and easy to follow guide to all the things no one likes to think about. There is an appendix with examples of some important forms.