Why We Need to Talk About the End of Life

Talking About Dying Frees Us To Live

In this episode, storyteller and end-of-life care advocate Kimberly Paul explores the power and possibilities unleased by facing end of life issues head on. She argues that talking about dying helps us to live more fully and be a more powerful presence in the lives of those we love.   Resources  Kimberly Paul's website  https://www.deathbydesign.com/ [https://www.deathbydesign.com/] Kimberly's tour https://www.deathbydesign.com/live-well-die-well-tour-stops/ [https://www.deathbydesign.com/live-well-die-well-tour-stops/] The Death Deck https://thedeathdeck.com/ [https://thedeathdeck.com/] Karl Pillemer, PhD, 30 Lessons for Living https://www.karlpillemer.com/books/30-lessons-for-living/ [https://www.karlpillemer.com/books/30-lessons-for-living/]  We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College. Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute [https://www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute] Email us icgi@ithaca.edu [icgi@ithaca.edu]

How To Choose A Healthcare Proxy

This episode is about an important health care document – the healthcare proxy. Anna Rosenblatt, a Practice Facilitator at Cayuga Health Partners in Ithaca, New York will talk with us about what a healthcare proxy is and and why it’s important. We’ll also talk about who is a good choice, how to talk to your doctor about it and what happens if you don’t have one.   Resources   NYS Healthcare Proxy document and info: https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1430.pdf [https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1430.pdf]  NYS Guide to choosing a healthcare agent https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/patients/health_care_proxy/ [https://www.health.ny.gov/professionals/patients/health_care_proxy/]  National Institute on Aging https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-health-care-directives [https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-health-care-directives] https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1503.pdf [https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/1503.pdf] https://order.nia.nih.gov/publication/tips-for-advance-care-planning [https://order.nia.nih.gov/publication/tips-for-advance-care-planning]  Law – Family Health Care Decisions Act (2010) http://wnylc.com/health/entry/142/ [http://wnylc.com/health/entry/142/]  We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College. Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute [https://www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute] Email us icgi@ithaca.edu [icgi@ithaca.edu]

A Geriatrician Talks Health Care Decisions

Dr. Thomas Caprio, who specializes in geriatric medicine, hospice, and palliative care at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discusses life-sustaining treatments in the case of a serious illness and at the end of life.  He talks about the importance of the healthcare proxy and how that person can work with the healthcare team to respect the patient's wishes around care. He’ll also touch on medical jargon and how it’s okay to ask your doctor to explain the situation in terms you can understand.  Resources:  https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/23094529-thomas-v-caprio [https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/people/23094529-thomas-v-caprio]  https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care [https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-are-palliative-care-and-hospice-care]  We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College. Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute [https://www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute] Email us icgi@ithaca.edu [icgi@ithaca.edu]

The Conversations

Angela Mennitto, a death midwife and community educator, and Deb Traunstein, a medical social worker, in Ithaca, New York talk to us about why having end-of-life conversations is so important.  They'll discuss why it's so hard, what may happen if you don't have the conversations  and what role culture plays in how we talk about death. Resources Dr. Ira Byock [https://irabyock.org/] is a leading palliative care physician, author, and public advocate for improving care through the end of life Angela Mennitto's website  The Art of Dying Well [https://theartofdyingwell.com/] The Conversation Project [https://www.ihi.org/Engage/Initiatives/ConversationProject]  We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College. Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute [https://www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute] Email us icgi@ithaca.edu [icgi@ithaca.edu]

Why We Need to Talk About the End of Life

In the introductory episode, Elizabeth and Lisa will tell you why they wanted to make a podcast about end-of-life conversations. They will share their experiences of how a simple letter or set of instructions from a loved one helped ease the pain of those left grieving. They will discuss the importance of having ongoing conversations about this difficult subject. Resources An eight minute PBS Religion and Ethics Newsweekly video about doctors and end-of-life discussions https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/06/10/january-15-2016-doctors-and-end-of-life-discussions/28640/ [https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/06/10/january-15-2016-doctors-and-end-of-life-discussions/28640/]  Extremis film on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/title/80106307 [https://www.netflix.com/title/80106307]   We Really Need to Talk is funded by the Finger Lakes Geriatrics Education Center at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute. Editing and production support provided by Dr. Becky Lane and Jay Williamson at the Center for Creative Technology at Ithaca College. Web: www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute [https://www.ithaca.edu/gerontology-institute] Email us icgi@ithaca.edu [icgi@ithaca.edu]