Conversations of a Lifetime about End of Life

Generally, we are reluctant to talk about the end of life matters. Many totally ignore them. There are a million reasons to avoid having the conversation. But it’s critically important that we do.

Currently, there is a paradigm shift in the discussion about the end of life issue in US in the last few years. The Conversation Project Organization, http://theconversationproject.org/ has the audacious goal of wanting to change the US culture so that everyone wishes for end of life care are both expressed and respected.

To get us started in the discussion, The Conversation Project in their Starter Kit http://theconversationproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/TCP_StarterKit_2015_Final_Writeable.pdf asks us to consider the following facts:

1) 90% of people say that talking with their loved ones about end-of-life care is important.
27% have actually done so.
Source: The Conversation Project National Survey (2013)
2) 60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by tough decisions is extremely important.
56% have not communicated their end-of life wishes.
Source: Survey of Californians by the California HealthCare Foundation (2012)
3) 80% of people say that if seriously ill, they would want to talk to their doctor about wishes for medical treatment toward the end of their life.
7% report having had this conversation with their doctor.
Source: Survey of Californians by the California HealthCare Foundation (2012)
4) 82% of people say it’s important to put their wishes in writing.
23% have actually done it.

Source: Survey of Californians by the California HealthCare Foundation (2012)

I would strongly recommend, if you do not have the time, to at least see the first two video below. I find the videos very moving and educational.

Hospice: Conversations of a Lifetime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAuIEYACh_0

Conversations of a Lifetime, About Hospice and the End of Life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EquQmq9A6o4

Living & Dying #17 HD, One Client’s Story
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdSzMj4HapA

Letting Go: A Hospice Journey – movie (Elendegés: Utazás az elfekv ben – film)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QMdDr1Jf7g

The conversation project | Ellen Goodman | TEDxBoston
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbWcLYOniWU

How to Get Ready for Important End-of-Life Conversations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcrLYAtUIXQ

Clinician’s Guide to Starting Conversations about end of life CHPT 4- COMPLETE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27gKUQvq2p0

How do you want to die? Meet the movement on a mission to make death part of popular conversation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7RD85nF-70

The Conversation Project: An Overview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owH-os9I19I

An interview about The Conversation Project– (Ellen Goodman, Luann Scherer, Joe Neyer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09w3Lv9QiR4

The Conversation Project: Planning for End-of-Life Care Webinar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4bHcho9AvU

Connecting Conversations: End-of-Life Discussions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXzkd4tMDGk