How to Talk to Your Parents about Death

In this episode of The Death Readiness Podcast, Jill is joined by Megan Malick, founder of A New Path, grief and after-loss educator, speaker, and author. Megan shares insights on navigating the complexities of loss, discussing why conversations about death readiness are so difficult, and offering practical steps to approach these conversations with loved ones. She also introduces her new book, A New Path: A Practical Workbook and Planner for the First Year of Grief and Settling Your Person’s Affairs, which serves as a compassionate guide through the emotional and logistical challenges of administering a loved one’s estate after a loss.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why talking about death is so difficult—and how societal shifts have contributed to this avoidance.
• The emotional weight of grief and estate administration – the “double whammy.”
• Five small steps to begin a conversation about end-of-life planning:
• The different types of support people we may need after a loss, which Megan categorizes as:
• The importance of pre-planning and how having essential documents in place can ease the burden on loved ones.
• How Megan’s personal experience of losing both parents unexpectedly shaped her approach to after-loss planning.

Practical Takeaways

• Start conversations about estate planning and death readiness with small, approachable topics.
• Don’t pressure loved ones into sharing more than they’re comfortable with—any information is better than none.
• If you’re grieving, don’t hesitate to ask for help. Megan provides scripts in her book to make reaching out easier.
• Prepare in advance for emergencies. See the downloadable resources below.

Resources Mentioned

• Megan Malick’s Book: A New Path: A Practical Workbook and Planner for the First Year of Grief and Settling Your Person’s Affairs
• Downloadable Resources:
  • Home Important Information Sheet
  • Pet Important Information Sheet
  • Child's Important Information Sheet

Connect with Megan Malick

• Website: https://a-new-path.com/
• Email Megan: [email protected]

Connect with Jill & Death Readiness

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email Jill: [email protected] 

Support the Podcast

• Follow us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listened to this episode.
• Share this episode with someone you care about.

Podcast editing provided by JAG in Detroit Podcasts

• Website: www.JAGinDetroit.com
• Email: [email protected]

This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with special needs (and special needs trusts), whether you need a professional fiduciary (trustee or executor), how the estate tax works and how to preserve your legacy.

Tuesday Triage episodes answer questions from listeners like you, from powers of attorney, healthcare advance directives (and whether they work when you’re pregnant), what a Last Will and Testament really is, whether you need a trust, how Medicaid works and how to have senior and elder care conversations and how to care for aging parents.

Disclaimer: This podcast and all related content are for educational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is established here. Use of this information without careful analysis and review by your attorney, CPA, and/or financial advisor may cause serious adverse consequences. For legal guidance tailored to your unique situation, consult with a licensed attorney in your state.