engAGINGconversations's podcast

Teacher, author, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, and author Yvonne Caputo, shares her family caregiver story with us today. Through experiences with her professional life, she was able to have difficult conversations with her father that changed their relationship, and ultimately honored his end of life wishes. Listen to our talk today and learn more about: The MOST important thing we can do to improve communication with our parents The Five Wishes Document Quality of Life How to Pick your Health Care Agent/Proxy And where to find out more about Yvonne Caputo and her books: Flying with Dad Dying with Dad

How does one manage when you have 4 girls between 10 and 15 years of age and your mom has a life changing medical issue? Why you become sandwiched, of course. Laurie James shares her experience with us today. And the struggles are real. Listen to our talk today and find out why it's so important to advocate for your loved ones, even if it means being the “squeaky wheel”. Other things you MUST know: Why you need to do your homework when your are bringing caregivers into your home The importance of having conversations about finances with your parents (AND YOUR KIDS) Why YOU must have Power of Attorney/Health Care Proxy documentation in place Ask for a palliative care consultation (even if you think it means Hospice–it doesn't!) Life is short, and if you are not fulfilled, find someone who can help you get where you want to be!! What is the difference between having a coach and a therapist Resources: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On And Letting Go Laurie's Coaching Services Social Media links: FB InstaGram

Personal stories are so important. Sharing our agonies and defeats as well as our wins can help others when they find themselves in similar situations. Kelley Skoloda shares her story today. She was a busy, healthy, active businesswoman, wife and Mom when she was diagnosed with cancer. She wrote a book, A Way Back to Health: 12 Lessons From a Cancer Survivor which she talks about with me. Listen and find out: How important colon cancer screening is Why it's so important to advocate for yourself, or have a family caregiver advocate for you That it's ok to interview your potential physician How gratitude can help even on the worst of days Find Kelly's books here: A Way Back to Health Too Busy to Shop: Marketing to Multi-Minding Women

Christian Worstell is a licensed insurance agent, senior staff writer for MedicareAdvantage.com, and Medicare expert. I talk with him today about Medicare and all it's moving parts, including the annual enrollment period which runs from October 15th-December 7th every year. Listen to today's episode and learn: The different types of Medicare coverage About the Annual Enrollment Period Things beneficiaries should be aware of during AEP that can be costly if you don't pay attention Advice and tips on how seniors can choose the best plan for their needs Benefits covered by Medicare that beneficiaries may not be aware of Why you should care about this if you're not on Medicare Other resources to help you navigate Medicare: Find a licensed insurance agent State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Annual Notice of Change

People like to talk about finances about as much (or maybe less) than they like talking about death. But it is HUGELY important to know what your parents finances. And hopefully before you take on the role of family caregiver. I'm talking with Ryan McEniff today and he's talking to me about this topic. Ryan is the owner/CEO of Minute Women HomeCare in Lexington, MA and host of the podcast The Caregiver's Toolbox. We are sharing our platforms to help get the word out about the need to have conversations with your parents early and often. We touch on many different issues related to finances and aging. Re-listening to this has given ME anxiety! But avoiding this topic doesn't make the issues related to it go away. And putting these conversations off until your family is in crisis WILL NOT help you. Listen and learn about: What home care can cost What nursing home care can cost Why you need to be proactive to help your parent. AND yourself Where you can find resources to help you navigate this time Resources: Five Wishes, The National Aging in Place Council, Act III, NAIPC

Did you know that dementia is not a diagnosis, but rather a list symptoms? And that 50% of those over 65 can have one of these symptoms? What is a dementia whisper and how does one become one? Laura Wayman has spent decades in the memory care space. Her book A Loving Approach to Dementia Care now in its 3rd edition, is a resource for us all. She talks with us today about her experiences and expertise. Learn about: becoming dementia aware and why it is essential how to effectively communicate with a loved one with dementia caregiver burnout managing dementia symptoms dementia navigators   Check out Laura's video here: Inside the mind of someone with dementia Follow her on FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn

Kathleen Vallée Stein is a baby boomer. And so are her siblings. If you were raised in the 50's, 60's, and even 70's, your father often had the final say about everything. And many ruled with an iron hand. When her Dad was facing end of life, it was difficult to reverse rolls. And her Mom was not in a position to take the lead. So what do you do? Kathleen's experiences led her to write a beautiful book, Loving Choices, Peaceful Passing: Why my Family Chose Hospice. We talked about her experience as a family caregiver. Listen today as we discuss: How to start an end of life conversation with your parent when your parent “ruled the roost” Why you might need to start the conversation about hospice Divide and conquer (if you have siblings) is a great strategy Why it is so important to talk to your parents about finances Reasons to consider a hospice chaplain And why it is SO important to do these things before your parent is dying Resources: The Five Wishes, Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care, Comfort Care, Find Kathleen here: YouTube, Facebook

Kami Schaal is a career RN. She spent over a decade working in an ICU, in a level 1 trauma center in Philadelphia. She's seen it all. She transitioned to home care/hospice case management and says the transition wasn't difficult. She came to the use of essential oils with her family. Her academic background helps her understand them and confidently share them with others. Listen today to hear about: neuropathic pain How it is (and is not) treated Why you might want to learn more about the use of essential oils Who can benefit from their use and a bonus discussion about vaccines and things you may (or may not) know about them Hear more from Kami on her new podcast: The Imperfect Adventure And find her here: Her website: Family Wellness Warriors or on Facebook

Dr. Aaron Blight has had a lifetime of caregiving experience. Both personal and professional. He took what he learned as a family caregiver and started a career in professional caregiving. His latest endeavor has taken him from the owner of a homecare business, to being the founder of Caregiving Kinetics, and author of When Caregiving Calls: Guidance as You Care for a Parent, Spouse, or Aging Relative. Why should you listen? Because there are over 53 MILLION Americans providing unpaid care for a family member. And 83% of those caregivers are experience MORE stress with the onset of Covid-19. And chances are very good that if you are not already a family caregiver, you're going to be. We had a great conversation today about: Some of the struggles family caregivers face Unanticipated rewards of being a family caregiver Suggestions for managing guilt/resentment family caregivers can feel What dying teaches you about living Why you should read his book Find Aaron on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter Home Instead Senior Care Services, Visiting Angels

Terry Lyn Fountain has a great outlook on life. As you listen to her speak you can tell she is an optimist. And she is also an realist. She is a 78 year old cancer survivor. She has a husband for whom she provides care. She is also an essential oil user and a new dōTERRA wellness advocate. She shares her experiences today. On today's episode, we talk about: Why it's important to put yourself first Palliative care and/or integrative medicine How she developed a partnership with her medical doctors to incorporate the use of essential oils What health benefits she and her husband have experienced since starting to use dōTERRA essential oils How many prescription medications she has been taken off of since she began using essential oils One great piece of advice she has when it comes to visits with your doctors Get in touch with Terry here: tlfnotary4@gmail.com Links to Resources: dōTERRA MD Anderson Cancer Center

You never know when you might become a family caregiver. Annette Berkovits never thought she would be in that role. In fact, at this point in her life, as a woman in her 70's, she thought someone might be needing to care for her. Her story is one of resilience and support for her family. And exemplifies the importance of Advance Care Planning conversations for adults, at any age. She has written several books in various genres. In her most recent book, Erythra Thalassa, Brain Disrupted she shares her journey, via poetry, through her son's devastating hemorrhagic stroke. Listen today and hear Annette talk about: The importance of books, music, fresh air, and most importantly, human interaction Why the title, Erythra Thalassa How important hope can be Why it's important to put yourself in the shoes of the patient The importance of enjoying the little things And check out the song her son, Jeremy wrote for his wife and daughters: The Time I Spend With You Find Annette on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest

Ken Stern is not only the host of a new podcast aiming to help family caregivers, he is a member of the Sandwich Generation. The new podcast, When I'm 64, is produced by The Longevity Project, an offshoot of the Stanford Center on Longevity. By sharing family caregiver stories, they hope to help other family caregivers understand that there are many ways to provide care and help our aging loved ones and the family caregivers. The Stanford Center on Longevity is the world's leading think tank on longevity. They understand that greater longevity brings greater challenges, especially because our society is not set up to assist with the needs of a larger, aging population. When I'm 64 is hoping to help. Listen as I talk with Ken to hear: How many family caregivers there are in the US Why you should NOT feel alone if you are a family caregiver What is needed to support family caregivers in longer-term roles as our society ages and lives longer Why employers must support their employees in their family caregiving roles What is needed to optimize longer lives How conversations about this can help you and your family come up with solutions that work for you And check out When I'm 64 to hear some beautiful caregiver stories that may help you in your journey!

I'm sure you've heard of essential oils. A lot of people think they're witchy or woo woo-ey. But the reason they can be so effective is they are made up of chemical compounds and work at a cellular level. As in science! Denise Joswiak is not only a certified aromatherapist, she is also a registered nurse. And she uses evidenced based research to guide her aromatherapy practice. But she also says that most people who share essential oils have a personal story to share. Denise shares her personal experience and her professional expertise with us, discussing the use of oils as palliative care options. Remember, that palliative care is defined by the Center to Advance Palliative Care as specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. It focuses on providing relief from symptoms and the stress of illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Something essential oils can, and do offer. Listen to today's episode to learn: How essential oils can be used in the palliative care space What oils can help Things to consider when choosing essential oils What the difference is between essential oils and hydrosols (science!) What her research showed regarding the use of essential oils for nausea, anxiety, and pain How to find a certified aromatherapist How to earn CEU's and become certified yourself How to get aromatherapy in your healthcare workplace some great suggestions for home made gifts! You can find Denise here: Essential Health MN, Instagram, and Facebook, or email her at info@essentialhealthmn.com Other resources: National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy Alliance of International Aromatherapists Essential Oil Nurses; EORN Right click here to download and save this episode to your computer

Life is inevitable. And there are moments in life that define the path you take. BJ Miller had one of those life defining moments in college. He became disabled after an electrical injury. It was his experience as a patient that led him to become a physician. He was ready to give up on medicine after becoming disillusioned by our healthcare system, when he became aware of, and began practicing, palliative care. On today's episode, you'll hear what BJ has to say about: Mettle Health–online palliative care and coaching–how to work with your doctor to achieve YOUR goals of care How medicine can work together with other disciplines to improve the things that can't be fixed How a crisis can move you (patient and family caregivers) to a place of new invention Why he thinks Covid has created an opportunity to help more patients and families decrease suffering Why it is important (on so many levels) to support family caregivers And check out these resources: A Beginner's Guide To The End The Center for Dying and Living Follow BJ on Twitter

What happens when you are a woman who is finally figuring out her life, in a committed relationship, about to have a baby, and then diagnosed with cancer? Jaime literally lost her voice for months while undergoing treatment for throat cancer, so she began writing. blogging her experiences and feelings. Listen today to hear Jaime's story and find out: Why being authentic is important (or should be) to you Why you need to know what palliative care is Why (if you are a parent) you are an aging parent, no matter how old you are And maybe start asking yourself: How are you showing up for your life? When do you feel like you are happiest? Conversely, when do you feel at your worst? Find Jaime here: Jaimethinksaydo.com, Instagram

Death doula, and author, Rebecca Munn is an optimist. She was raised by optimists. Yet she encourages conversations about death. And talks to people about cancer. Why? Because it's who she is. Her first book, The Gift of Goodbye: A Story of Agape Love , she shares the journey she took with her mom after her second cancer diagnosis. Rebecca talks about the challenges that so many caregivers face: juggling parenthood, career, and geographic barriers to provide care to her Mom, and Dad, at different times. In her newest book, All of Us Warriors: Cancer Stories of Survival and Loss , she talks with others about their cancer experiences. And what they want others to know. Listen to this episode to learn: What agape love is How you can be an optimist and talk about this stuff An important question you can ask your dying loved one Why staying engaged with others is important Facebook, Twitter Other resources Rebecca mentions: Parnasus Books Signs by Laura Lynn Jackson Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

How do you feel about being dismissed? Or ignored. Or being told what to do…This is often how our aging population is treated. And if we don't change things, this will happen to you as well. Stephanie Erickson is a social worker, certified Alzheimer's disease treatment specialist, and author of a new book titled Plan For Aging Well. Check out this episode of engAGING Conversations, and learn about the importance of: early communication about wishes (verbal and written) the financial impact on family caregivers “Team caregiving” becoming an advocate for your loved one AND yourself Follow her on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram

Hey Stranger, where ya been? I know I've been in absentia for the better part of the last 3 months and really my only excuse is…Covid. No, I didn't have it, but I have been struggling with thoughts about what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. As we all know, life has changed. And in some ways for the better. So I thought I'd fill you in on my summer, and where engAGING Conversations is headed. Stay tuned and find out more about: palliative care dōTERRA essential oils And thank you

Samuel Shem, aka Stephen Bergman MD, wrote The House of God after surviving his medical residency. 40 years later, he reprises the characters for his most recent novel, Man's 4th Best Hospital. He says the best way to talk about history is through fictional writing. In Man's 4th Best Hospital, he shares his observations for the need for healthcare reform, using the humor, enthusiasm, sadness, and honesty of some of the beloved characters from The House of God. This book will definitely give you an insiders view of what's wrong with today's healthcare system, and why physician (and nurse) burnout is so common. Listen today and find out: What the electronic medical record is really about What he feels is missing in healthcare What is is going to take to fix it What unique class he teaches to NYU med students

Joan Lunden is a well-known, influential public figure and author. I talk with her today about her family caregiver experience, as well as her newest book Why Did I Come Into This Room? an honest look into what it's like to be an aging woman. Listen today to hear: Why Joan is the national spokesperson for A Place for Mom How to start a conversation with your parents What's the secret of life? (According to Joan's mom) Why you should write your own eulogy and obituary Why we need to talk candidly about changes associated with aging Find out more about Joan Lunden find her other books, and follow her on social media Facebook InstagramTwitter

Do you have a loved one in an assisted living or long-term care facility? If you do, you need to listen to this episode. Mike Eidsaune, founder and CEO of Care.ly, tells about this communication tool. Find out: What Care.ly is Who it is for How it can be used to improve communication Why it is beneficial to not only families, but professional caregivers Links to Resources: Care.ly Granpad Brookdale Senior Living Communities

The last (hopefully) update on Covid-19 lockdown in Rincon, PR

Many of us have talked about end of life wishes. I'm willing to bet though, that many have never considered anatomical donation as an option. Mark Zavoyna is the Operations Manager of the Anatomical Donor Program at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Listen and learn today: What is anatomical donation Who can donate? Who cannot donate? Why you would donate Associated costs Need more information? Do an internet search state of Florida anatomy board–they have a comprehensive list of US donor sites, contact a nearby medical school's department of medicine (anatomy), or email Mark

Latest updates regarding lockdown in Rincon, Puerto Rico including information on life and availability of testing here 

How do you want to live? The goal of The Conversation Project is to get people talking about this. And they are using the non-medical community to get these conversations started. The focus is on values, not medical terminology. Kate DeBartolo, who oversees the Conversation Project, shares her expertise with us about having end of life conversations. Find out more on today's episode: The effects of end of life conversations on depression rates Who should have these conversations When they should have them What is it about dying home that is important to people What role does a loved one play as a proxy or healthcare advocate find out what resources are available here: The Conversation Project Find them on Facebook , Twitter, YouTube

The latest on life in Puerto Rico in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Update on the last week and tips about how to wear a mask and gloves, where to find more GOOD information.

A daughter's plea: Doctors must stop shirking palliative care. No beating around the bush there. A great article about Aimee's experience as a family caregiver for her Dad. Aimee shares her experience today as well as suggestions for making things better for all. Listen and learn about: Barriers to Palliative Care Goals of Care Conversations Five Wishes Why adult medicine should be practiced like pediatrics Follow Aimee on Twitter and find her soon at aimeegindin.com

The latest here in PR. #quedateencasa #stayhome #staythefuckathome

Day 10/11 update. Statistics, resources, cleaning tips, advice...

Airport closures, shelter in place orders, and scarcity of PPE among other things.

Update on yesterday and today

Daily update and thoughts

Daily update + some suggestions for keeping yourself and your loved ones safe...

Day 3. Scary decisions, quiet, lonely...thank God for my dog!

A day in the life of COVID-19 lockdown in Rincon, PR, day 2...

Planning ahead is important. But how do you plan ahead when you don't know what you need? You enlist the help of a geriatric nurse consultant. Jeri has spent her nursing career in the end of life space. From an early age, she was drawn to work with the elderly. And some personal experiences with dementia and death further fueled her passion. She offers her expertise as a geriatric care consultant on today's show. Tune in to today's episode and learn: What a geriatric nurse consultant is Why you would need one Why it's important to talk about choices before the need arises Why your aging/dying loved one needs an advocate Learn some strategies for communicating with your loved one with dementia How to find a geriatric nurse consultant Find Jeri on LinkedIn Find out more about EndWell

Day one of lock down in Rincon, PR as we try to slow the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. I will be doing a daily update to let the rest of the world know what's happening here. Please share. And take care of yourself.

Jennifer Moore Ballentine is the executive director of the Shiley Institute of Palliative Care at California State University. She recently wrote a very interesting piece about just the role of palliative care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please tune in to this very important episode and get an education, not only about palliative care, but hear more about: social distancing flattening the curve social isolation having conversations with your loved ones Find out more about the Shiley Institute here: csupalliativecare.org or call 760-750-4006 Read Jennifer's full article: The Role of Palliative Care in a COVID-19 Pandemic

Do you believe in life after death? If you do, you're going to love this interview. If you don't, you should listen to this interview. I firmly believe that Debra Diamond can decrease your fear of dying. Debra Diamond is a former Wall Street money manager, turned psychic medium and death doula. On today's show, she shares with us her experience as a death doula and hospice volunteer, sitting with the dying. Find out from her: what the difference is between a psychic and a medium what happened that brought our culture so far away (and afraid of) death? About the difference between being unresponsive and being unconscious what loved one's in spirit do for the dying Follow Debra on Twitter and Facebook And get her books: Diary of a Death Doula: 25 lessons the dying teach us about the afterlife Life After Near Death

I love to talk to nurses. We practice in all areas of healthcare, so you can find a nurse to talk to for just about anything. Julianne is an expert RN, end of life doula, and advance care planning facilitator. She can help individuals identify their personal goals, options, and choices when it comes to end of life. Listen today to learn: What an end of life (death) doula is What advance care planning facilitators are and how they can help you and your family How many people over aged 65 will arrive in a hospital unable to speak for themselves, i.e. why this conversation is so important… When YOU (we) should start advance care planning Find Julianne here: juliannemcdevitt.com and Facebook Resources: The Story of LaCrosse WI (episode 15 of engAGING Conversations) Being Mortal by Atul Gwande

Are we taking better care of our dying family members than we were 30 years ago? It's a question I ask end of life expert, Barbara Karnes RN on today's episode. She has been in this space, almost since the beginning of the movement, so she should know better than anyone. Find out the answer to this question and more: What is the key to reducing fear when talking about death? Are families well supported by hospice today? What is the most common way we die? Is death painful? Find Barbara on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube And get her booklets: Gone From My Sight–The Hospice Blue Book Pain At End of Life and other resources on her website

After a holiday hiatus, I'm back to let you know what'g going on here at engAGING Conversations, and to ask for your help and prayers for the people of Puerto Rico (listen. It will make sense). Happy New Year!

Have you been wondering where I am? I apologize for my absence. It was not planned. It just kind of happened. Listen in today to find out what's going on behind the scenes. Find out where I'm going next week, (End Well Symposium) and how you can go too! I'm looking forward to meeting several people who I have already interviewed here on engAGING Conversations: Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider Michael Hebb Dr. BJ Miller Dr. Michael Fratkin Sallie Tisdale RN and a few I hope to get the opportunity to interview: Tim McGraw Meghan McCain Dr. Lucy Kalanithi All of whom are speaking at the event! Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends. Please consider 2 things this week: Start the conversation with your family this Thanksgiving. Help end senior hunger in America and make a donation to Meals on Wheels

Who wants to party?!? There is a BIG festival happening in San Francisco October 24th-November 3rd. Did I mention it's a death festival? Its' actually a festival to get people talking about death, in an effort that we may live more fully in the present. Doesn't that sound awesome??? Listen today to find out more about: ReImagine End of Life San Francisco ReImagine End of Life New York A movement among millennials to explore death and celebrate life The Debut of Brad's song “Why Wait” Why you should watch Disney/Pixar's Coco If you want a festival in your city, contact ReImagine End of Life Follow them on Facebook Instagram And check out This Party's Dead with Erica Buist_064

I've been a professional caregiver for the last 35 years. I realized recently that I have also been a “professional” family caregiver for the better part of the last 17 years. I don't work in a bubble, teamwork is everything. But in spite of my professional knowledge, it's amazing the things that can happen that you aren't quite prepared for. I honestly don't know how families with non-medically trained people manage. Listen today to learn from my most recent caregiving experience. I'm going to share with you 5 (no, 6) things you should know about providing care to a family member after major surgery. In addition, there are some things happening in the month of October that you should know about: It's Long Term Care Planning Month. To learn more, listen to: Understanding Long Term Care Insurance with Hone Leveen_025 Medicare's Annual Election Period begins 10/15. Hear more: Medicare's Annual Election Period with Danielle Kunkle_031 and Medicare Updates with Danielle Roberts_080 ReImagine End of Life, a life/death celebration happening in San Francisco, beginning October 24th. In next week's episode I will be interviewing Brad Wolfe, co-founder. You'll also get a sneak peek (?listen) of a song he will be debuting! Don't miss it!! And although not in October, I will be attending the End Well Symposium, happening in San Francisco on December 5th. Learn more about it here: End Well with Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider_056, and JOIN US!!

Medicare is the US National Healthcare program for people over 65. It's comprised of two parts: A & B, which cover ~80% of costs. The rest is filled in with things called Part C, D, and Medigap, which are supplements you can sign up for during the yearly election period. There are lots of things to consider when making decisions about these moving parts. Because making the wrong choices can cost you money. The annual election period runs from October 15th to December 7th. Medicare recipients receive information in the mail a few weeks prior to this period. There is also a lot of commercial attention on the TV. Danielle Roberts is a medicare insurance expert and is going to help us understand how it all works. She first appeared on engAGING Conversations last year, on episode 031, so I encourage you to listen to that episode too. Listen to today's episode to learn: When you need to sign up for Medicare What the Annual notice of change is and why you need to pay attention to it What the different parts of the Medicare Program are Things to consider when choosing your plan Why you should consider a prescription drug plan even if you don't take prescription drugs What Medicare does not cover Find out more about Danielle and her company at Boomer Benefits and follow them on Facebook Twitter Instagram

There are SO many things to consider when planning a funeral, why do most of us not plan ahead? It's traumatic enough when a loved one dies, why do we wait until it happens to figure out the specifics, when time could be better spent supporting each other in our grief? John Manke, RN and funeral director, gives us a tutorial regarding things to consider when planning a funeral. There are more things to consider than you might think. And how do you know what your loved one would have wanted if they never told you? Listen to today's episode and learn about: disposition of the body organ/tissue donation options for ceremonies death benefits why you need to do your homework (and save money!) what can happen if you don't plan John's business Manke Memorial is happy to help if you are located in North Jersey. Find out more about organ and tissue donation at The Sharing Network

Probate court guardianship was set up to protect people from  family members out to take advantage of them. What has happened, however, is that SOME court appointed guardians have figured out how to work the system, and take advantage of elders with assets. Dr. Sam Sugar says ageism is to blame, in part. Squabbling families feed into this. Our legal system is supposed to help people who can't get it from other sources. But court appointed guardianship can be quite the opposite. He and his organization Americans Against Abusive Probate Guardianship, are on a mission to educate, advocate, and legislate to change this. Listen today to find out: What is equity/probate court? How can elder guardianship abuse happen? How many people may be affected by this…? What is incapacity, and how can this effect an outcome? What can you do to prevent this happening to you or someone you love? Why once court appointed guardianship has been established, it can be extremely difficult to expunge… Find out more here: Guardianship Abuse and the Elderly : The Perfect Crime AAAPG.net The Guardians

There are seven states, plus Washington DC, where Death with Dignity is currently legal. There are bills pending in seven other states. Massachusetts is one of them. Massachusetts States Senator Will Brownsberger tells us about the bill there. And once again, you will see, that there is often a personal reason why people are in this end of life space. It's called different things in different places. Here in Massachusetts, the bill is titled S.1208 End of Life Options. In Colorado, the home of my last 3 guests, it's called Medical Aid In Dying. Regardless of it's name, it allows physicians to legally prescribe medication that a terminally ill individual can self-administer to hasten their death. It's controversial, and definitely not for some (for most I would imagine). But for the select group of competent people who choose it, I believe it should be allowed. Listen in and learn: Why Senator Brownsberger is an advocate what the barriers are even in states where it is legal what you can do to promote legislation in your state

This week's episode wraps up my talk's with a group of healthcare providers from the University of Colorado's Cancer Center, about their experience with Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), or Death with Dignity. Dr. Ross Camidge wrote an article titled, Why I Wrote the Rx That Helped My Cancer Patient Die that was published in The Huffington Post in June. This is how I became aware of this amazing team. I talked with Joan Hart, the oncology social worker, Dr. Jon Treem, the palliative care physician, and today, with Dr Ross Camidge, the medical oncologist, about their experiences with patients who requested Medical Aid in Dying. We talk about a lot, including: what the process is to request MAID how clinicians feel about this request what his team has learned from the patient's they have received things for clinicians to consider in states where legislation is pending Oregon was the first state to legalize Death with Dignity Click on this link to view recent statistics and their data summary Stay tuned for next week's episode. I am talking with one of my state (Massachusetts) senator's about the bills currently under review (H.1926/S.1208), to legalize this in Massachusetts.