engAGINGconversations's podcast

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.

Whether you approve of Death with Dignity, or "medically assisted death" or not, it's legal in 7 states and the District of Columbia. Just because it's legal, it doesn't mean you need to partake. And if you do request it, that doesn't mean it's easy.

In today's episode, Dr. Jonathan Treem, a palliative care physician affiliated with the University of Colorado Hospital Cancer Center, talks us through the process of Medical Aid in Dying.

You'll also learn:

• The barriers to medical aid in dying (even in states where it's legal)
• three things people who request medical aid in dying are encouraged to do
• three suggestions for clinicians in states where Death with Dignity laws are pending or forthcoming

Check out the bills currently undergoing review in Massachusetts

End of Life Options Act

Death with Dignity is legal in 7 states and the District of Columbia. At least 8 other states have legislation under review, including Massachusetts, where I live.

So I decided to speak with some practitioners who have experience with patients requesting medically assisted death. This interview is the firs of three with healthcare providers from the University of Colorado Hospital's Cancer Center.

Today I talk with Joan Hart, the social worker from the team. She provides insight regarding:

• medical aid in dying (MAID) in Colorado
• who is a qualified terminally ill adult
• why some patients choose this option
• the impact this decision can have on providers

Did you know that many medicare recipients would have to choose between medication and housing costs or even food, if they had a serious medical condition? Healthcare costs is a large contributor to bankruptcy filing in the elderly.

Could your parents (or you) afford medication that cost 10, 15, 20 thousand dollars or more annually to treat a serious medical condition? Me either.

The PAN Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides assistance to over 200 thousand people a year. They offer grants to subsidize prescription medication costs for 70 different diseases.

Listen to today's episode to find out:

• who qualifies for a grant
• how to apply
• what you can do to decrease out of pocket expenses
• where you can find assistance to figure these things out

Resources:

National Council on Aging

benefitscheckup.org

Download the app FundFinder to help you find financial assistance from charitable organizations

Every day people get thrust into the role of family caregiver. Sometimes it's a slow acclimatization, sometimes it's like getting shot out of a cannon. Life can change on a dime. Would you know what to do if a medical emergency happened to a close family member?

It's not a given that you won't become a family caregiver until something happens to one of your parents. This is one of the lessons of this story. Donna O'Donnell Figurski never thought it would happen to her. She talks today about the struggles (and triumphs) she and her husband encountered as he suffered and they recovered from a traumatic brain injury caused by a hemorrhage (stroke).

The other lesson? People often don't even recognize that they ARE family caregivers! Listen to Donna discuss her experience and her book, Prisoners Without Bars

Donna share what she learned from their experience, as well as two tips to family caregivers. Listen in and find out what can help you through the challenges.

Find out more about Donna Figurski and her work with traumatic brain injury here:

survivingtraumaticbraininjury.com where you'll find links to her blog and radio show, Another Fork in the Road

Follow her on Social Media: Facebook Twitter Pinterest

And find out here how you can help yourself, as well as why you should, even if you're not a family caregiver (yet). teachyourselfwealth.com

What are you doing for elders? It's a question Dr. Louise Aronson suggests we ask. Whenever there is talk about changes that includes adults and children. And it should be important to you, no matter what your age, because if you don't die prematurely, you're going to live to be an elder.

Explore other topics related to Elderhood in this interview, including:

• Where the US Healthcare system is ranked globally
• What a geriatrician is
• Why you may not be able to find one
• When you should transition your care to a geriatrician
• What is needed to improve the care available to our aging population

Check out her website, louisearonson.com

And follow her on Twitter Instagram YouTube

Re-released in an effort to give visibility to Tina and her project, with a public apology from me…Here you go Tina!

Tina is a photo artist who had a significant fear of death. A $2 book on the clearance rack changed her life. She no longer fears death, and has taken on a Ph.D project to let others talk about their beliefs about death and what happens when we die.

She shares these stories (and her brilliant portrait photography) on her website

The Death Letter Project

She is a pioneer. She wants to decrease the fear people have around death. Breaking down barriers about end of life conversations. What is death? What happens when we die? Because of her experience reading/talking with others about near death experiences, she has changed her beliefs.

We need more pioneers in this area. Death is a normal part of the circle of life. We should be able to talk about death as easily as we talk about birth, weddings, graduations…any other normal life process.

If we can have these conversations, we can diminish our cultural fear of death, and encourage more conversation about what individuals really want (or don't want) when faced with a life limiting illness.

It's all about quality, whatever that means to an individual, and our job as family members/friends/advocates is to uphold the wishes of those we love. Death is an amazing teacher.

You can connect with the Death Letter Project on the website, or the Facebook Page:

@deathletterproject

Or Instagram

deathletterproject

You can find Tina's photography work here:

tinafiveash.com

It seems that no one sees "normal dying" anymore. The news and social media focus on tragic and unusual deaths. We don't talk about death and dying because it scares people and makes them uncomfortable.

Having the dying process described to you is way less terrifying than what you can conjure up in your own mind. In fact, it can be comforting. Just ask Dr. Kathryn Mannix's patients. Even physicians can learn from her. They can be so busy trying to stop death, that they don't "see" the pattern of approaching death. And see how intrinsically calming recognizing this pattern can be to a family.

She has been helping people navigate end of life and death for decades, and "is on a mission to reclaim public understanding of dying". Her book With the End in Mind is an anthology of stories that clearly demonstrates her work. And I can't recommend this book enough! To both healthcare professionals AND the general public.

Find out in today's episode:

• How death is like birth
• What Cognitive Behavior Therapy is
• Why knowing what to expect can make the experience easier

Follow Kathryn:

With The End In Mind Her website with lots of great resources!

Twitter Facebook Instagram

Why would physicians with successful practices and good reputations share experiences that can't be explained by science? Dr. Scott Kolbaba shares the answer and their stories in his Amazon bestseller book, Physicians Untold Stories. This may seem a bit off topic, but trust me, it's not.

Listen to Dr. Kolbaba share a few of the stories and find out about:

• coincidences…or not…
• premonitions/visions
• HOPE!

Follow Dr. Kolbaba at PhysiciansUntoldStories.com or on Facebook as the book becomes a television show. And stay tuned for book 2!