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 Choices California. She quizzingly replied, “We have choices?”
Unfortunately, her question did not surprise me. California’s End of Life Option Act (also known as medical aid in dying) went into effect on June 9, 2016. Most people have never heard of it, have incomplete information about it, or have heard wildly inaccurate stories about what’s involved. In addition, several other end-of-life options have been legal for decades and most people don’t know about them either. These options include stopping unwanted medical treatment; palliative care; hospice care; and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED).
Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t know when or how I’m going to die. My doctor will take care of me. There’s nothing else I can do about it, so why bother thinking about it?”. Certainly, that’s one way to go (literally and figuratively). Might you change your approach if you learned you have the power to shape your end-of-life experience?
Even though no one lives forever, it’s difficult to talk about death. Some people worry that bringing up the subject is inviting the Grim Reaper to their door. Other people fear that no one else could possibly want to talk about death because it’s just too scary. And, perhaps most of all, no one wants to feel rejected by the people in their lives simply for raising this topic, let alone talking about it in detail.
Starter Questions
So, where can you learn:
- How to have these difficult conversations?
- The importance of sharing your values and end-of-life wishes with
- Key people in your life?
- What your legal end-of-life options are?
- The resources and support available to you?
EOLCCA Speakers Program
The Speakers Program at End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) is here for you, your loved ones, your friends, neighbors, and acquaintances.
We offer the following services at no charge:
- Delivering presentations about advance care planning, legal end-of-life options, and the support provided by EOLCCA.
- Participating in panel discussions and educational series about death and dying
- Staffing a table or booth at health fairs, senior fairs, and similar community gatherings
Questions we often hear:
In 2024, EOLCCA’s Speaker Program reached more than 3,000 people across nearly 100 events. Here are some of the most common questions that we were asked:
- Does California’s End of Life Option Act cover dementia and other chronic
diseases? - What is the difference between a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST)?
- How are palliative care and hospice care different?
- What do you do if your physician doesn’t know that medical aid in dying (MAiD) is legal in California or doesn’t support your request for it?
- Do medical aid-in-dying medications expire?
- How does a person’s body react to medical aid-in-dying medications?
- Can the health care agent you named in your Advance Health Care Directive make the decision for you to take medical aid-in-dying medications
- Does insurance cover the costs (physician and prescription) of medical aid in dying?
- How long does it take to die from voluntarily stopping eating and drinking?
- How can someone become a volunteer with EOLCCA?
Our Outreach
We want to reach more Californians of all ages and backgrounds in 2025 and we need your help.
Do you or someone you know:
- Work in a hospice or palliative care setting?
- Live in a retirement community?
- Offer programs to seniors?
- Work with…
- doctors, physician assistants, nurses, and other medical professionals?
- social workers, psychologists, and other mental health professionals?
- lawyers and paralegals who specialize in estate planning
- Belong to a service organization?
- Teach or study at an educational institution?
- Participate in a discussion group (book club, current events, etc.)?
- Host social gatherings with friends and neighbors?
- Organizers of health and senior fairs?
- Belong to a faith-based institution?
Anyone we haven’t mentioned in this list?
Next Steps
- Complete this online form or download this PDF version
- or call us at 760-636-8009
Don’t forget:
Go to our Events Calendar and subscribe to the calendar for upcoming events by clicking the button at the bottom of the View-by-List or View-by-Month page.
Contact Us:
We want to hear from you and the people in your life! By connecting with us directly or referring someone to us, you are helping us to raise awareness of advance care planning, legal end-of-life options, Californians’ right to medical aid in dying, and EOLCCA’s work. We are grateful for your support of these efforts!
About the Author: Reina Galanes, PhD, is the Speakers Program Coordinator for End of Life Choices California and a member of the EOLCCA Board of Directors. With a background in psychology, education, and healthcare compliance, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work. A committed volunteer, she is passionate about lifelong learning, community service, and end-of-life education. Read more about Reina.