LeadingAge: End-of-life planning is often avoided or delayed by Americans. In the United States, names like Terri Schiavo and Dr. Kevorkian clutter our collective understanding of what to expect at the end of life. And thus, we ignore the topic altogether. Starting a conversation about end-of-life wishes is often the most important and difficult step. While older adults and those with life-limiting illnesses are usually the focus of the conversation, it’s useful for people to consider end-of-life preferences throughout their lifetimes.