MARQUETTE -- End of life planning.  That topic drew 35 seniors to the Sky Room at the Landmark Inn in Marquette on Friday.

It's not an easy thing to do when the time comes.  But knowing how a family member or friend want to be treated medically, if they become incapacitated, can lessen the struggle for the decision maker.

"If decisions haven't been made," said Upper Peninsula Home Health employee, Sharon Fries, "it can cause a lot of chaos between the children.  There can be anger."

And it's why attorneys and health care providers came together to make the process easier to understand.

"People really are afraid of what they don't know," said Lake Superior Hospice Director, Kayla West.  "And so, one of the nice things about starting that conversation is that it's calming."

Friday was National Healthcare Decisions Day, and attorneys from the Elder Firm of Anderson Associates, along with Upper Peninsula Home Health and Lake Superior Hospice, offered resources at the Landmark, such as living wills and medical power of attorney.

"We want to be prepared and have our wishes known," said attorney, Robert Anderson.  "Not the doctors' or the hospital's wishes, but our wishes to dictate how we go through our elder care journey."

It's a decision that 73-year-old Marlene Johnson and her husband put off until Friday.

"My husband, for me; me for him, you know if anything happened to me," said Johnson.  "It is hard enough, you know.  This would make it a lot easier."  And now Johnson can relax, knowing her wishes will be respected.

Both nurses and attorneys say you don't have to wait until you're a senior to make those decisions.  It's never to early to start.