The Long Road to California’s Successful MAiD Law
EOLCCA celebrates 10 years of the End of Life Option Act this June, which legalized Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), allowing for greater end-of-life options for terminally ill Californians. The […]
Going it Alone with MAiD
My husband’s strong will to live led to his belief that the next round of chemo would be the one that was successful… By Christine Lynch My husband’s strong will […]
When Someone “Has No One”: A Volunteer’s Reflections on Supporting a MAiD Client
By Antonia Kao NOTE: Names and some details in this article have been changed to ensure confidentiality. On September 29, 2025, End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) received an uncommon […]
Grieving in Advance
By Mary Abbott Increasingly, the EOLCCA Bereavement Program is receiving requests for support around ‘anticipatory grief.’ From those receiving a diagnosis, to loved ones, to hospice social workers, the public […]
Lessons in How – and How Not To Die
This story about one woman’s experience of both best and worst at life’s end is being told for the dual messages it brings. Resources on our website can help you […]
The Dying Process Can Be Peaceful
…If you know what to expect. By Fran Johns When my husband Bud died I knew a lot about what was happening. I had attended medically- aided deaths as a […]
Movie Review: The Room Next Door
By Stewart Florsheim Confronting the issue of dying with dignity, Medical Aid in Dying, and coming to terms with terminal illness and death has become more commonplace in film and […]
Good Grief! Navigating MAiD Bereavement
Thankfully, the laws have changed. The culture has some catching up to do. by Mary Abbott End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA), in partnership with the Hospice of the North […]
Honoring Our Volunteers – Linda Rowe
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and End of Life Choices California would not be able to provide the information and support we do to thousands of Californians each year without […]
A Determined Team Helps Ensure a Peaceful End
By Fran Johns It takes a village to navigate life. To end it best, it takes a team. Recently I had the privilege, and delight, of being on the team […]
Wait, We Have Choices? Spreading the Word about End-of-Life Choice
by Reina Galanes Today at the gym, an acquaintance asked what I’ve been doing in retirement. I told her I’m volunteering as the Speakers Program Coordinator for End of Life […]
Going the Extra Mile
by Fran Johns “You are part of our family now,” wrote one client’s daughter to volunteer and Board Member Sue Gess, summing up the heart of the work we do.“Thank […]
December 2024 Blog
By Mark Greenberg As the year comes to a close, I am proud and pleased to report that End of Life Choices California’s programs and services expanded at unprecedented levels. […]
A Voice of Compassion
By Fran Moreland Johns “Can you help me?” The voice answering that anxious, often sorrowful and sometimes desperate question can be the first voice of reassurance in challenging times. The […]
Finding your Bereavement Safe Zone
By Lynne Calkins What is a ‘Bereavement Safe Zone’? It’s 5 PM on a Tuesday evening. We’re sitting at our computers, strangers from all over the US, staring at faces […]
Thanksgiving. Giving Thanks. Giving. Thanks.
There are so many inspirational quotes and phrases about Thanksgiving focusing on gratitude and thanks, one quote from Erma Bombeck stands out to me: “I come from a family where […]
End of Life Choices California—Here for You
Watching things bloom this time of year makes me think a lot about End of Life Choices California and how we too are growing. I am pleased and honored to […]
What actually happens during a MAID death.
As an End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) bedside client volunteer and retired medical professional, I’ve attended both medically-assisted deaths (MAID) and non-MAID deaths. Most people who qualify choose MAID […]
Getting the Word Out About Dying with Dignity
At End of Life Choices California, one of our major objectives is to spread the word about all of the medical options Californians have at the end of their lives […]
Not in the Job Description, Bonus Benefits of EOLCCA Work
“All they really needed,” one volunteer said of a client’s family, “was an outsider’s ear and a little time.” The volunteer had come, after making an appointment on the phone, […]
Medicare wants you to talk to your doctor
You may not be thrilled to have “aged into” Medicare, but there’s a silver lining! Medicare offers significant support for communicating about your healthcare wishes and managing your end-of-life options. […]
Our First Line Phone Volunteers
Lynne Calkins remembers one call from a man whose terminally-ill father wanted to die – beginning a story that led to a movie. Last Flight Home, an acclaimed documentary released […]
What MAiD Is, and What It Isn’t
Illness, dying and death can be troubling and fearful subjects. Not the kind of thing you bring up at brunch or over an after work beer. In a way that […]
A Good Year
As 2022 winds down, I want to wish all our friends and supporters a happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year. I always find it illuminating to look back […]
How We Help Our Clients
When I first joined EOLCCA’s Board of Directors, I decided to go through the volunteer training so I could get a handle on our core work: to help Californians learn […]
Talking to your Doctor about MAID
When your plans include California’s End of Life Option Act Medical aid in dying is a legal end-of-life option in 11 US states and jurisdictions, including California. Aid in dying […]
The Day I Die: The untold story of assisted dying in America
Anita Hannig’s The Day I Die: The untold story of assisted dying in America has taken a well-deserved place as the definitive book on medical aid in dying. Want information […]
Talking with Your Doctor about Your End-of-Life Wishes
When we plan the least When expectant parents are planning for their newborns, it’s commonplace to seek out trusted medical offices that are aligned with their needs and values. Similarly, […]
Comfort at Life’s End
When is being comfortable and pain-free not a good idea? Most of us would say never. As we humans approach life’s end, though, that question can get trickier. Or at […]
Apoyo y Ayuda al Final / Support and Help at the End
Esta nota bilingüe fue publicada previamente en La Voz y en Impulso News. Si usted desea apoyar nuestro alcance a la comunidad Latinx, escriba a la Doctora Marisol a doctoramarisolmunoz@gmail.com. […]
Your Voice – Lessening the impact of dementia
The joy of growing up for me was to be on my own, make my own way, and be myself. Of course, accomplishing these goals is more than the compilation […]
In Love, A Memoir of Love and Loss
I often receive requests to read and review books. As a result, I have quite a pile of books on my nightstand. And as an avid reader, this is a […]
Why I Do This Work
I’ll call her Hazel – because she didn’t give me permission to tell her story. If I had asked, though, I’m satisfied that she would have happily agreed. Hazel was […]
Looking Forward in 2022
This month, End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) celebrates the completion of three years of service to the people of California. Dear Friends and Supporters, I am proud to share […]
A Volunteer’s Story
Our client, and my friend, “Anne” died Friday, December 10. She was the mother of my best friend and the most fun-loving, bubbly, vivacious, down-to-earth woman I have ever known. […]
Making a Good Law Better
We are happy to share the following op-ed submission written by Board member Fran Johns who recently sent it to the San Francisco Chronicle. It has yet to be published, […]
Advance Directive: Part 2
For our fourth week in April honoring National Healthcare Decisions Day (April 16), we will complete this series by discussing two additional topics that can be added to an Advance […]
Advance Directive: Part 1
Now that you have hopefully talked with your loved ones about getting an Advance Directive (AD) done, or are thinking about updating it, here is a little more information. By […]
Do You Have an Advance Directive?
Although conversations about Advance Care Planning may seem awkward at first, they often bring family members closer together. Talking about death/end of life is deeply personal. Sharing beliefs and desires […]
Can We Talk?
They say there are only two things we absolutely have to do: Die and pay Taxes. April 15 is traditionally Tax Day, and now the day after, April 16, has […]
Honoring National Healthcare Decisions Day
Most of the work we do at End of Life Choices California involves talking with people about dying: addressing their fears, providing support with problem solving, helping them access the […]
What the World Needs Now
As End of Life Choices California completes its second year (first full year!) and we approach this coming new one, I am struck by what an immense undertaking beginning and […]
El Día de los Muertos
Dear Readers, A few years ago, I happened to be visiting Mexico over October 31 – November 2. As luck would have it, it was the annual event of el […]
Medical Aid in Living
People seeking MAID are vibrant, courageous, and thoughtful. They know who they are, define the rules of their life, and are clear on their values, including the meaning of living. […]
California End of Life Option Act 2019
The recently released 2019 data report on the California End of Life Option Act highlights, among other things, the welcome progress made in the increasing number of physicians prescribing medical […]
Looking for answers about EOL? We can help.
I hope that everyone in California who has ALS or any terminal illness and wants to exercise their right to die on their own terms is lucky enough to give […]
Making COVID Lemonade
As I contemplate life on my porch in late-May 2020, I feel many different emotions. As a nursing home and hospice physician, I mostly feel sad that so many of […]
Gentle Tips on Death and Dying
I have never died, so this entire book is a fool’s advice. Book Review On the first page of her new book, Sallie Tisdale writes: “I have never died, so […]
Our Favorite Music
Dear Friends, In this continuing and unprecedented time of disruption and uncertainty, we wanted to share some of our favorite music with you. Music has been known for centuries to […]
My First Death
I don’t mean that I saw the bright light at the end of the tunnel and came back to the big metal table. I’m not writing about my childhood dog, […]