Empowering Information Presented During “Not Just for Older Adults – Let’s Talk About End-Of-Life Planning”

On October 15, 2023, NCJW Sacramento and Jewish Family Service was proud to present “Not Just for Older Adults – Let’s Talk About End-Of-Life Planning” at Congregation Beth Shalom. We’ve heard from many participants that they found it informative and empowering. Making informed choices helps us feel more in control of the direction our lives will take. Our thanks go to our featured speakers, Chaplain Meg McClaskey, Chaplain and Bereavement Counselor at UC Davis Hospice and Ryan Spielvogel, Medical Director of End of Life Option Act Services for Sutter Health.

Click here to view the recording.

Please plan to join us for our second session on February 11. We’ll be talking about planning and conversations we need to have with family, friends, physicians and legal professionals. Even if we have a will and a trust, there’s more to know. Stay tuned for more information about the event location and time.

We hope that you’ll find the information sources below useful.

WEBSITES:

CompassionAndChoices.org – tools and information, including Dementia Values and Tools,
Diagnosis Decoder, My End of Life Choices toolkit and other resources

Five Wishes – Fivewishes.org

California law – Endoflifechoicesca.org

Coalition for Compassionate Care of California – Coalitionccc.org

BOOKS ABOUT PLANNING FOR AGING AND DYING

Being Mortal: Illness, Medicine and What Matters in the End – Atul Gawande MD

When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi MD

Age Later – Nir Barzilai MD

Breaking the Age Code – Becca Levy

Code Gray – Farzon Nahvi MD

Disrupt Aging – JoAnn Jenkins

Happiness is a Choice – John Leland

The Art of Dying Well, A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life – Katy Butler, Scribner 2019

Dying Well, Peace and Possibilities at the End of Life – Ira Byock MD, Berkley Publishing 1997

The Four Things That Matter Most A Book About Living – Ira Byock MD, Simon & Schuster 2014

The Last Adventure of Life, Sacred Resources for Living and Dying from a Hospice Counselor –
Maria Dancing Heart, Findhorn Press 2008

Death and Dignity, Making Choices and Taking Charge – Timothy Quill MD, W.W. Norton, 1993

Extreme Measures, Finding a Better Path to the End of Life – Jessica Zitter MD, Avery 2017

HELPFUL DEFINITIONS: NOT JUST FOR OLDER ADULTS – LET’S TALK ABOUT END-OF-LIFE PLANNING
Click here to view (PDF)