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Planning ahead

There may be times in your life when you are prompted to think about your future. It may be because of a life changing event, and you might wish to make plans, just in case the unexpected happens. Or you may be the sort of person who likes to plan ahead. 

Why plan ahead for end-of-life?

Planning ahead allows you to talk about your thoughts and wishes while you are still well, or if you have recently become unwell. It is particularly important to have plans in place in the event you become unable to make decisions for yourself. You may wish to record your preferences and wishes for care and treatment – this might include an advance decision to refuse treatment. It can help you and those who support you to understand what is important to you.  

Planning Ahead Booklet

We have worked with the NHS and Marie Curie to produce a Planning Ahead booklet, designed to help anyone, including our patients, start a conversation about the future.  

Copies of our Planning Ahead booklet are also available at either of our hospice hubs in Taunton and Yeovil. If you are under the care of the hospice, our staff will be happy to help you with any queries you may have. 
Planning Ahead Booklet (678.16 KB)

Your Digital Legacy

With the increasing popularity of social media and online platforms, what happens to your information online after your death should be treated like any of your other assets.  At St Margaret’s, we know that having open conversations with loved ones about what happens after we die can help to reduce the toll on family and friends. 

What is a Digital Legacy?

A digital legacy is the digital information you create online during your lifetime that remains online after your death. Your digital legacy can include anything you have online such as social media profiles, financial and shopping accounts, emails and digital assets such as stored photos, music and files.  

Digital wishes are instructions you leave after you die, saying what should happen to your digital legacy. For example, you may want your social media accounts left online, or you may want them to be deleted. Your digital wishes are usually within a document stating how you wish your digital legacy to be dealt with.  

You can also say who you would like to take care of your digital legacy. Your digital legacy can be a lot for a loved one to deal with when you’re gone, so recording your wishes could make things a lot easier for them both practically and emotionally.  

Recording your digital wishes before you die gives you the chance to:  

  • Protect your privacy 
  • Decide how you want to be remembered 
  • Share sentimental digital assets, such as photos, videos and music 
  • Prevent future upset for your loved ones e.g. birthday reminders 
  • Control who can access, save, transfer or close your accounts.  

How do I get my digital affairs in order? 

To ensure your instructions are followed, the best thing to do is add your digital wishes to your Will. Within your instructions, you should:  

  • Name your digital executor – who you would like to manage your digital accounts and assets. If you can, check that they are happy to manage this once you’re gone.  
  • List your online accounts – consider everything and make a list. You’ll find some useful documents below to help with this. Don’t include your passwords in your list! Your digital executor won’t need them to deal with your digital assets. Instead, they’ll need to contact each account service and ask for it to be closed or memorialised.  
  • Document your digital wishes – you may wish for your entire digital legacy to be deleted, or you may like to pick and choose what happens to each account and asset. Include this detail in your instructions. Include details of any gifts, for example, which friends or family you would like any photographs or documents to be passed on to.  
  • Storing your digital wishes – Recording your wishes in a Will is the only way to ensure they are legally binding. Other options include leaving your wishes document with your solicitor, if you don’t include them in your Will, or keeping them in a safe place at home.  

Digital Legacy Planner

We have put together a template to support your planning. You can download it below.
Digital Legacy Planner (151.28 KB)

Don’t forget…  

It’s important to keep your digital legacy up to date. When setting up a new digital account, make a note or set up regular diary reminders to update your digital wishes with any changes.  

Please feel free to discuss your digital legacy with a member of the St Margaret’s team – we are more than happy to guide you. Get in touch by emailing [email protected].