A recent study showed that 80% of adults living in the United States had made no advance funeral plans. This means when death comes knocking at their door, the family will not be prepared because they never had that important 'death talk' with their family members!

Each family is unique; the best way to approach a 'death talk' is through honest discussion of plans for arrangements after death.

Once the difficult conversation is over, it is unlikely that you will need to revisit it. Here are eight ways to begin a productive conversation about this challenging topic.

As with most important conversations, it’s important to consider the purpose of the discussion before initiating. No matter why the topic came to mind, knowing the purpose moving forward will help ensure your wishes and keep a lot of stress off your family.

Planning for a funeral is tough, especially when your family doesn't know what you want. To help avoid an awkward or bruising conversation, pick a time when everyone is available and not feeling pressured.

If you are with someone who finds talking about death distressing, make sure to accommodate them as much as possible. You may not be able to make this topic safe for everyone ahead of time, but some ways might set it up for success.

When approaching this subject, be cautious of sensitivities. Focusing on both physical and emotional comfort will help the conversation proceed much more smoothly.

Have a family meeting to establish your concrete wishes regarding funeral arrangements. Have those present speak their minds without dominating the conversation while also listening to everyone’s preferences.

No one can predict the future. Issues like funeral arrangements should be considered at the time of death to provide greater peace of mind.

If you are meeting to discuss plans for your elderly parents, include the event of your death as well.

Writing decisions down helps protect against feelings of panic and uncertainty for the family as they grieve your death.

For example, most Catholics will opt for burial. It's worth documenting this decision in advance, even if the whole family is on board.

There are different wishes that people might want to have in preparation for death, but some of them are non-negotiable. Others may be more optional or un-affordable due to the budget. Keep your family's state of mind and what will work on their funding in mind before making any non-negotiable decisions for funeral plans.

Admit children, pets, and other family members into your will. Save enough money for burial expenses by setting up a trust account that you can easily access when you need it. Write down various funeral plans, so they are not lost due to forgetting or misplacing them. Speak with

Don't hesitate to update your advance directive as life changes and your wishes change. These eight steps may help you and your family break the silence and make it easier to plan for the end of life.