Discussing end-of-life care is never an easy task, yet it is one of the most important conversations we can have. Without it, our loved ones may never know our wishes, and we may not receive the kind of care we want at the end of life. Having this discussion is the first step to completing the advance care planning process and ensuring that our health care wishes are honored.

There are no concrete rules for discussing our end-of-life care preferences. It's a conversation that can take place in any location and with one person or several of our loved ones. For some, it's easier to open the discussion by writing a letter; others prefer to discuss the subject with a physician first. It is up to us to decide how, when, where and with whom we want to have this important conversation.

The most important thing to remember is that as difficult as this conversation may be, it would be even more difficult for our loved ones to have to make those decisions for us without knowing what we would and would not have wanted.

For ideas, guidance and information about having this conversation, please review our "Conversations Change Lives" toolkit in the Resources section.