Advanced End-of-Life Options Training for Doulas

Doula Training in EOL Options brochure

Advanced Training for End of Life Doulas: two required sessions (via Zoom). 9AM-1PM (Pacific) on Saturdays, Jan 13 and Jan 20, 2024.

End of Life Choices California is pleased and honored to announce a new educational opportunity being offered to certified End-of-Life Doulas. We will be holding our first Advanced End-of-Life Options doula training in January 2024, live on Zoom, designed to enhance the training that certified end-of-life doulas have already completed.

The training is being offered to already certified End-of-Life Doulas from anywhere in the U.S. Please visit our website for more information.

You will also find an application for the January training and a printable brochure about the new program. Questions can be answered by emailing doula@endoflifechoicesca.org. EOLCCA plans to offer this training 2 or 3 times a year, or as demand dictates.

Advanced End-of-Life Options Training for Doulas

Doula Training in EOL Options brochure

Advanced Training for End of Life Doulas: two required sessions (via Zoom). 9AM-1PM (Pacific) on Saturdays, Jan 13 and Jan 20, 2024.

End of Life Choices California is pleased and honored to announce a new educational opportunity being offered to certified End-of-Life Doulas. We will be holding our first Advanced End-of-Life Options doula training in January 2024, live on Zoom, designed to enhance the training that certified end-of-life doulas have already completed.

The training is being offered to already certified End-of-Life Doulas from anywhere in the U.S. Please visit our website for more information.

You will also find an application for the January training and a printable brochure about the new program. Questions can be answered by emailing doula@endoflifechoicesca.org. EOLCCA plans to offer this training 2 or 3 times a year, or as demand dictates.

Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Last Flight Home

Temple Emanu-El, San Deigo

Saturday, November 4: Temple Emanu-El, San Diego. Time: TBD

Screening of “Last Flight Home” followed by Q&A and panel discusssion

This award-winning documentary introduces us to Eli Timoner in his final days and highlights his extraordinary life, one filled with wild achievements, tragic loss and above all, enduring love from his incredibly close-knit family. LAST FLIGHT HOME shares a heart-wrenching and stunning verité account of a family courageously facing both life and death. Plus, learn about EOLCCA’s role in Mr. Timoner’s journey. A Q&A and panel discussion will follow the screening with panelists:  Judy Epstein, Executive Director, End of Life Choices California; Rabbi Suzanne Singer, Board Member, End of Life Choices California; and Dr. Gaja Andzel, M.D. – Endocrinologist and Physician/Prescriber for Medical Aid in Dying, Southern California.

Click here to watch a trailer for this must see film!


End of Life Choices CaliforniaEnd of Life Choices California’s mission is to provide Californians the information and support to successfully navigate their legal end-of-life options.  Relevant topics include Advance Care Planning; the California End of Life Option Act (EOLA); eligibility requirements for Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD); and Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)–a legal option in all 50 states. Our volunteers are very knowledgeable about both hospice and palliative care and can explain the differences between the two services.

Be sure to check our Resources page for Q/A; information on books, films, and organizations; sign up for our blog; see upcoming events; and so much more.  To request a speaker for your group or organization, click here.

Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) as an End of Life Option

Tuesday, September 12th, 11 AM.  This is an in person presentation for Elizabeth Hospice Volunteers.

Lynne Calkins, founding director of End Of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) will present the latest updates to California’s End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), trends in the utilization of Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), barriers to its use, and opportunities for coordination between EOLCCA and hospice.

The presentation will cover such topics as:

  • Advance care planning – Advance care planning is a process that enables individuals to make plans about their future health care. Advance care planning is applicable to adults at all stages of life. Participation in advance care planning has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their families, and lead to improvements in end of life care.
  • Updates to the California End of Life Option Act – as of January 1, 2022:
    • The new bill reduces the waiting period between the required two oral requests to 48 hours
    • Healthcare systems and hospices now have to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites.
    • The final attestation form is no longer needed.  
    • The amendment also clarifies that MAID medication can be taken within a healthcare facility.
  • Eligibility Requirements for MAID – Must be 18 years or older; Must be of sound mind and exhibit appropriate decision-making capabilities to the attending physician; Must be able to self-ingest the medication either orally or by pushing through an NG tube; and Must be diagnosed with a terminal disease, with a life expectancy of six months or less, by two physicians.

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End of Life Choices CaliforniaVisit EOLCCA’s Hospice page for more information about this important service.

Hospice is a philosophy, not a place, which provides compassionate comfort care at the end of life. The goal is to maintain or improve quality of life for someone whose illness, disease or condition is not going to be cured, and from which there is no anticipated recovery. Each patient’s individualized care plan is designed to address the physical, emotional and spiritual pain that often accompanies terminal illness. Hospice care also offers practical support for the family during the illness and grief support after a death. For those who have an appropriate medical referral, the cost of hospice care is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid or a third party insurance.

End of Life Choices California provides Californians the information and support to successfully navigate their legal end-of-life options.

To request a speaker for your group or organization, click here.

Hillcrest Retirement Community: End of Life Options

February 15, 2024 at 2 pm  Live Presentation.  Private for Residents of Hillcrest Retirement Community

Residents of Hillcrest retirement Community are invited to join End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) Founding Director Lynne Calkins, and Client Volunteer Thom Bettinger who will highlight services provided by this organization whose goal is to help ensure that people are able to receive the information and support they need to advocate for and experience the death they wish.

The presentation will cover such topics as:

  • Advance care planning – Advance care planning is a process that enables individuals to make plans about their future health care. Advance care planning is applicable to adults at all stages of life. Participation in advance care planning has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their families, and lead to improvements in end of life care.
  • Updates to the California End of Life Option Act – as of January 1, 2022:
    • The new bill reduces the waiting period between the required two oral requests to 48 hours
    • Healthcare systems and hospices now have to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites.
    • The final attestation form is no longer needed.  
    • The amendment also clarifies that MAID medication can be taken within a healthcare facility.
  • Eligibility Requirements for MAID – Must be 18 years or older; Must be of sound mind and exhibit appropriate decision-making capabilities to the attending physician; Must be able to self-ingest the medication either orally or by pushing through an NG tube; and Must be diagnosed with a terminal disease, with a life expectancy of six months or less, by two physicians.

For more information contact: Lynne Calkins, LCalkins@endoflifechoicesca.org


End of Life Choices CaliforniaEnd of Life Choices California’s mission is to provide Californians the information and support to successfully navigate their legal end-of-life options.  Relevant topics include Advance Care Planning; the California End of Life Option Act (EOLA); eligibility requirements for Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD); and Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)–a legal option in all 50 states. Our volunteers are very knowledgeable about both hospice and palliative care and can explain the differences between the two services.

Be sure to check our Resources page for Q/A; information on books, films, and organizations; sign up for our blog; see upcoming events; and so much more.  To request a speaker for your group or organization, click here.