Deciding What's Important Together At the End of Life
This is an excellent way to decide what factors are important at the End of Life. The Go Wish Game can be played with loved ones as a way of starting the conversation about end of life wishes and care.
Simply by playing a simple card game you can clarify what is important for you at the end of life in an entertaining way. This game is an easy and fun way of starting the conversation about end of life wishes, to think about and talk about what is important to you if you become seriously ill.
Research, Inspiration and Development
Research and InspirationThe statements printed on the cards were inspired and developed in part from survey results conducted and published by Steinhauser and colleagues on factors that are important and the end of life and what determines a good death. (See references at the end)
The statements on the cards include factors such as:
- "To have my family with me."
- "To be free from pain."
- "To be treated the way I want."
- "To feel that my life is complete."
Development
Originally entitled the "Values Sort Cards," the Go Wish Game was developed based on factors considered to be important for most people at the end of life
The Go Wish Game was developed for use as a tool with elderly people with limited comprehension, for those with limited literacy and limited skills in the English language.
Those with mild dementia or poor eyesight can still participate in the Go Wish game by having someone read the statements on the cards aloud and then expressing how much they agree or disagree with the statement.
Those still with higher functions can use the statements on the cards as starting points for discussions on the meanings and implications of the various statements or factors printed on the cards.
Funding
Coda Alliance was funded in 2005 - 2006 by the Archstone Foundation to develop and test a program to educate assisted living residents, their family members, and assisted living facility staff about end-of-life care options and advance care planning. The Go Wish game was developed as part of this end-of-life care project.
Recommended Uses for Playing Go Wish - Go Wish Solitaire - Go Wish Pairs
There are several variations on the game. The boxed set includes and instructions. Go Wish can be played by yourself, in pairs, or in groups.
The cards include statements (factors) that people have made about things that might be important to them when seriously ill or in the last weeks or months of life. Players are asked to rate these various statements or factors according to the instructions. Once ranked, players can then look at the results.
Different people have different priorities on what is important to them at the end of life. Playing the game with your loved ones helps to figure out your priorities and lets your family members know what you value most at the end of life.
Recommended Uses
The Go Wish educational tool has been used in a variety of settings including:
- Health Education Classes
- Community Meetings
- Synagogue Meetings
- Church Meetings
- Medical Conferences
- Family Gatherings
The Go Wish Cards have also been used to start conversations about the end of life by
- Hospice
- Social Workers
- Health Educators
- Family Members
- Nurses
- Physicians
More Information About Go Wish and the Coda Allliance
Go Wish can also be used by patients, families and healthcare providers to help understand and clarify goals and values that are important for a person at the end of life. Many people find that playing the game helps them to voice and clarify their priorities and concerns about end of life care.The Go Wish Game is available for sale to both the public and health professionals from the Coda Alliance Website. The cards have been used in a variety of settings medical and community settings (See above).
How to Purchase the Go Wish cards
The Go Wish cards can be purchased through the Codaaliance.org for a total of $26.00.
This price includes tax, handling and Priority Mail shipping.
Note: Discounts are available for larger purchases.
More about the Coda Alliance
The Coda Alliance is a collaboration of individuals and representatives in the San Jose, California (Silicon Valley) from local hospices, hospitals, faith communities, universities, and elder care organizations. Their Mission is to provide people with practical skills and tools to plan and receive the care they and members of their community want at the end of life.
- The Coda Alliance - Website
More Information about the Research Behind Go Wish
The statements printed on the Go Wish cards were inspired and developed in part from results of a survey conducted and reported by Steinhauser and her colleagues."Factors Considered Important at the End of Life by Patients, Family, Physicians, and Other Care Providers" was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2000 and a related article "In Search of a Good Death: Observations of Patients, Families," and Providers in the Annals of Internal Medicine also in 2000.
These important factors at the end of life and those contributing to a good death have been summarized in other articles for this site:
- Important Factors for Patients - These are the factors considered by most patients to be important for them at the end of life.
- Top 10 Important Factors at the End of Life - These are the important factors for most people.
- Important Factors for Most Patients - This is the entire list of factors studied by Steinhauser and colleagues that inspired the development of these cards.
- Important Factors Grouped into Common Categories - The factors were grouped into common categories.
- Uses for the Factors Considered Important at the End of Life - This offers resources and helpful information for having the conversations and getting a person's wishes in writing.
- Six Components of a Good Death - Another study published by Steinhauser and colleagues based on research from the same study.
