I’ve worked with older adults for a long time, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the hardest conversations are often the most necessary. We plan for weddings, retirements, even vacations—but not for how we want to be cared for when we can’t speak for ourselves. 

That’s why I invited Kate DeBartolo, Senior Director at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, to join me for a powerful, practical conversation about how to talk with your loved ones about your wishes for care through the end of life. Spoiler alert: it's not really about dying—it's about how you want to live.
 

🕰 Timestamps

    0:00 – Why we avoid the conversation (and why we shouldn’t)

    2:00 – What is The Conversation Project?

    4:45 – Why it’s so hard to talk about this stuff

    8:20 – Making it personal: creative ways to start the conversation

    11:00 – Choosing your decision-maker (and making sure they know)

    14:00 – “Just pull the plug” and other myths

    18:00 – What really matters: values over medical procedures

    22:00 – Free tools to help, including My Health Checklist

    26:00 – How this work has changed Kate’s own family conversations
 

🔜 What’s Next

Want to be sure your voice is heard—no matter what happens? Head to theconversationproject.org and download their free guides. They’ll help you prepare, talk, and plan for the care you want, on your terms.
 

📬 Stay Connected

If this episode sparked something for you, send it to someone you love. The best time to talk is now. Subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, visit seniorityauthority.org, or reach out anytime at [email protected].