In Love, A Memoir of Love and Loss
I felt sad that they were unable to find that peaceful death in their own home and had to go to Switzerland to find medical aid in dying for early Alzheimer’s disease. As someone who has worked in the field of end-of-life care for over ten years now, it was still shocking to me to read her words about how poorly the US has constructed any kind of system for compassionate end-of-life choice. Yes, some states have medical aid in dying laws that allow physicians to legally prescribe medication to end a life. And people in those states are grateful for the choice. But, as Amy Bloom said, accessing those laws is like ‘threading the needle”.
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 78, and dying of lung cancer. Though hospice had been able to keep her largely pain-free, she 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 with you our accomplishments in 2021 and our vision for 2022. EOLCCA volunteers...
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. I called her my “other mother.” At a cool 95, she was having a great time. She was my...
Major Improvements to the End of Life Option Act
Thanks to the determined leadership of Sen. Eggman, and signed October 5, 2021 by Gov. Newsom, SB 380 makes the California End of Life Option Act more accessible to the terminally-ill.
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, but it is well worth sharing with our readers now. EOLCCA is very supportive of these changes...
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 Directive as addendums. Both are important and worth discussing. So, let’s get...
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 the way, it is recommended that people review their Advance Directive every five years or...
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 with those closest to you produces a more intimate...
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 been designated National Healthcare Decisions Day, in an effort to get people to plan for their dying as well as...
