SPEAKING OF DEATH AND DYING WORKSHOP

IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL LIVING

While this might seem like an unusual topic, the multi-day holiday, Day of the Dead, involves family and friends gathering to honor and remember those who have died, and helping support their spiritual journey. In Mexican culture, death is viewed as a natural part of the human cycle. Mexican culture views it not as a day of sadness but as a day of celebration because their loved ones awake and celebrate with them.

We will make an altar and you are welcome to bring a photo or remembrance of a person or pet who has died. We will have a ceremony of remembrance before the talk begins.

TALK – Judy Neall Epstein of La Quinta, from End of Life Choices California, will discuss planning and understanding all there is to know about dying well in California. You might be saying “But, I’m not sick or old and not planning to die soon!” Bravo to you! However, the fact is, we all die. It is very important that you know your rights as a patient and a citizen of California while you are still healthy and thriving and able to make decisions for yourself.

We will discuss Advance Directives, the POLST form, the DNR form, and the Dementia Provision. We also will discuss dying well: understanding hospice and palliative care, voluntary stopping eating and drinking, stopping unwanted medical treatment, and medical aid in dying via California’s End of Life Option Act (passed 2016).

Bring your stories, your questions, your fears and your hopes. We’ll make time to discuss them all with compassion and grace.