‘End of life’ is a phrase referring to the last years, year, months, weeks or days of your life – especially when you have illness that cannot be cured.

There may be times when you think about what happens if you become seriously ill or disabled. This may be because you are ill or as a result of a life changing event (e.g. retirement, receiving a diagnosis or the death of a friend or loved one). You may simply be the sort of person who likes to plan ahead.

You may want to take the opportunity to think about what living with a serious illness might mean to you, your partner or your relatives, particularly if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. You may wish to record what your preferences and wishes for future care and treatment might be or you may simply choose to do nothing at all.

Conversations and decisions about your end of life care is called ‘advance care planning’.