Leah Maul

Background

About Leah Maul

Many of us prepare our meals hours and days before we eat them. Many of us plan out when we will take our next vacation and where it will be this year. Practically none of us prepare for what to do when we age. We all are aging, right this very moment…we have aged another minute. We all know we are aging. We all know that most of us will get to our 60s, 70s, and some of us may reach our 80s and 90s. And so many of us have no plan and are not prepared for when we get to that age and are unhealthy. We have to face two things.1. Aging is happening. Death is inevitable. Putting off uncomfortable chats with your loved ones is like wearing blinders in the dark. It is pointless and is getting you no where. Crisis’ are going to happen and when there is a plan in place that everyone is aware of, the focus become more about the loved one’s comfort rather than reactionary chaos. I know, because I have seen both the best and worst-case scenario—and the worst, in all its horribleness, I don’t wish that for anyone.After suffering through a series of small heart attacks, my father-in-law had a massive heart attack. This left him in a coma. A week went by, and my husband and mother-in-law had the biggest decision they have ever had to make. When do we decide enough is enough and turn off the ventilator? What would he want? Had my family had the tough and uncomfortable conversation, they would have known and been able to follow the plan they all had discussed. My family could have been more at peace with knowing they had honored his wishes regarding his end of life. My family would have been mentally more at peace to grieve their loss without the added guilt of when was the right time to end someone’s life. This mental anguish could have been prevented. This experience was the reason I left a big job in a large healthcare system and create MEAH. I saw how advocates made the aging experience easier for families. Adult children need proper guidance, a plan and tools so they are able to focus on what is really important in the moment.