The Birds, the Bees and Final Wishes – A new study says “It's time” for another big talk with mom and dad: the talk about what will happen when the end of life happens.
A new poll of 2,000 American adults finds that 90% believe having conversations about end-of-life planning is important, and nearly six in 10 (59%) believe they will one day be responsible for making or helping to make end-of-life plans. To someone close to them.
However, half of them admitted that they had never broached the topic with their parents, nor with their spouse or significant other.
The study, commissioned by Afterall and conducted by Talker Research, revealed why many are afraid to discuss the inevitable. Participants admitted that they keep putting it off (26%), don't know how to talk about it (23%), or are simply afraid to have the conversation (16%).
The study also found that among those who want to talk about death, many are increasingly open to discussing end-of-life plans at younger ages.
Many respondents (41%) believe they should start planning for the end of their lives before they turn 65.
In addition, the average person begins planning for the end of their parents' lives when they are 50 years old and their parents are 70 years old. However, sixteen percent admitted they had no idea how old their parents needed to be to start the conversation.
“We've known for a long time that most people don't have an end-of-life plan and wait until a dramatic event occurs before they start thinking about it,” said Lee Senderoff, chief marketing and digital officer at Afterall. “This can be a very stressful time to make these important decisions. What's interesting about this study is that almost everyone thinks the conversation is important and they want to have it.
Despite the hesitation many feel, the study found that these conversations often remind people of what is important during end-of-life planning.
Those who spoke said they were working out the logistics of final wishes (57%), what is included in a will or trust (50%), and how to handle finances (33%) with loved ones.
However, participants said it was also important for them to collect information such as family history and stories (46%), health information (46%), and family recipes (23%).
79% have thought about the ideal way to deal with their remains after their death. Many said they would like to live in a favorite outdoor location (20%), be buried in a cemetery or mausoleum (19%), or kept in an urn at home (13%).
“Having a conversation about end-of-life planning doesn't have to be a one-off event, and it doesn't have to be scary,” Senderoff continued. “It can be as simple as starting with a question like: What music will you play at your funeral?”
What will you play at your funeral?
Participants were asked what song they would like played at their funeral or to mark the end of their life. Here's what some said:
“Another One Bites the Dust” by Quinn
“You're So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker
“Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper
“Star Wars” by John Williams
“Freebird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
“My Way” by Frank Sinatra
“Coconut” by Harry Nilsson
“Another Light” by Linkin Park
“Peace be upon you, Maria” by Andrea Bocelli
“Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
“Imagine” by John Lennon
“What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“Amazing Grace” by John Newton
“I'll Fly Away” by Albert E. Bromley
“How Great You Are” by Carl Boberg
Survey methodology:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans from the general population; The survey was commissioned by Afterall and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between 2 November and 7 November 2024.
