End-of-Life Planning Isn't Just for the Elderly — Why Young Adults Should Start Now
If you're in your 20s, 30s, or 40s and reading this, you're probably thinking one of two things: "This doesn't apply to me yet" or "I know I should, but I'll get to it later."
Both are completely understandable. And both are worth challenging — gently.
Why now?
End-of-life planning isn't about expecting the worst. It's about making sure that if anything unexpected happens, the people you love aren't left scrambling.
Consider this: if you were in an accident tomorrow and couldn't speak for yourself, would anyone know:
- Who should make medical decisions for you?
- Whether you'd want life-sustaining treatment?
- Where your important documents are?
- What your passwords are?
- What you'd want to happen to your social media?
Most young adults can't answer these questions for themselves, let alone leave answers for someone else.
"But I don't have much to plan for"
You have more than you think:
- A digital life — email, banking apps, cloud storage, social media, subscriptions, cryptocurrency
- Relationships — a partner, parents, siblings, close friends who would be affected
- Preferences — about care, about communication, about what matters to you
- Possessions — maybe not a house (yet), but savings, a car, personal belongings, sentimental items
- A voice — opinions and values that deserve to be heard, even if you can't speak them
Life events that make planning urgent
Certain moments naturally prompt the question "What if?":
- Becoming a parent. Suddenly, the stakes are different. Who would care for your child?
- Getting married or moving in together. Your lives are intertwined now. Have you talked about what happens if one of you gets sick?
- Buying property. Assets bring complexity.
- Starting a business. Your business needs a plan too — who takes over?
- Losing someone. Nothing motivates planning like seeing what happens when it's absent.
What young adult planning looks like
It doesn't need to be complicated. At minimum, consider:
1. Name a decision maker
Choose someone you trust to make medical and financial decisions if you can't. Tell them. It's a conversation, not a legal proceeding (though putting it in writing helps).
2. Write a simple will
It doesn't have to be complex. Who gets your savings? Your belongings? Your pet? If you have children, who becomes their guardian?
3. Document your digital life
Your generation has more digital assets than any before it. Make a list of accounts and how to access them.
4. Share your values
What matters to you? Independence? Being at home? Having family close? These aren't just questions for the elderly — they're questions for anyone who might one day need care.
5. Tell someone where everything is
The best plan in the world is useless if nobody knows it exists.
The gift of going first
Here's something unexpected: when you start planning, you give the people around you permission to do the same. Your parents might finally have that conversation they've been avoiding. Your partner might open up about their own fears. Your friends might realise it's not as scary as they thought.
Going first is a quiet act of leadership. And it's one of the most loving things you can do.
Start with 20 minutes
My Elephant was designed to make this easy. Our guided questionnaire takes about 20 minutes, and it helps you think through your values, preferences, and wishes in a way that feels natural — not morbid.
At the end, you get a personalised plan you can share with anyone. It's encrypted, it's private, and it's yours.
You don't have to be sick. You don't have to be old. You just have to care about the people around you.