BRIDGING THE DIVIDE:
2023 End-of-Life Virtual Conference Series
For more than two decades we have been providing end-of-life education in southern Arizona. Over the last three years, thousands of people from across the nation and around the globe have participated in our virtual education series.
This year we invite you to join us as we traverse the mortality terrain through our supportive and challenging discussions, films, presentations, and games. All are welcome to this free series of events.
All sessions are free of charge. Join us now!
Thank you to our Sponsors:
The Connie Hillman Family Foundation
Arizona Community Foundation
Join us for our two part series presented by: Tani Bahti (RN, CT, CHPN)
Restoring Our Humanity with End-of-Life Decision-Making (Part One) Thursday, September 21, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
End-of-life decision-making may have complex physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial impacts for the individual and the caregiver. Each person’s situation is unique given their values, needs, fears, and hopes for what they want at the end of their life. This session goes beyond advance directives and what is traditionally known as advance care planning. We’ll discuss some of the communication barriers and focus on specific strategies that we can use to embrace authentic person-centered care firmly grounded in the informed choice that reflects the individual’s goals and wishes.
Things We’re Longing to Know and Too Afraid to Ask: Demystifying the Dying Process (Part Two) Thursday, October 19th, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
As a person nears the end of their life, they may experience physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual changes. Like birth, our bodies have innate wisdom with the dying process. By normalizing and understanding what happens as we die, we can increase our capacity to face fears and devote our precious energy to making decisions that promote well-being and comfort. This uniquely bold session offers clarity around the dying process to relieve unnecessary burden and to support the individual and caregivers to be fully present on the end-of-life journey.
Warrior Caregiver Thursday, November 16, 2023 | 6-7 pm (MST)
November is National Family Caregivers Month!
Did you know that over 40% of Americans currently care for the health of a loved one? However, many of us do not see ourselves as being a caregiver. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 53% of unpaid caregivers who are employed had to take time off work to care for their loved one. The stress on family caregivers can make it difficult to manage the rest of our lives.
Karen Kochhar, owner of Right at Home, will bring her years of experience in the field to respond to our burning questions and challenges, discuss best practices that support us in the caregiving role, and help us better understand the types of services that are available to assist us throughout the caregiving journey.
Available Recordings for 2023 Virtual Conference Series
Dying in America: Care Options Near the End of Life January 19th, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
Due to the remarkable advances in medical care, we are living longer. But aging is commonly accompanied by illness, and people are living with slowly progressive serious illness. Unfortunately, many are unprepared for the final stages of life. Relatively few have had in-depth discussions with their physicians about their prognosis and goals of care. We must encourage far better end-of-life care to include early palliative care referrals; facilitation of end-of-life care conversations between patients, their families, and healthcare providers; completion of advance care directives; discussions and documentation of patients’ wishes, goals and values; and a meaningful shared decision-making process which includes a discussion of the end-of-life care options available.
Presented by: Dr. Tom Fitch & Mary Ganapol
Unburying My Father Thursday, February 16th, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
Zander's talk is a deep dive into his process of exploring grief through creativity. He shares intimate details of his father Randy's life as a friend, son, parent, husband, and photographer, as told by the people who knew him best. Zander discusses the impact that his father’s silence surrounding his illness had on him, his trauma around losing one parent, and his struggle to connect with the other. The talk features Randy's stunning photography and audio recordings of the people that knew and loved him. Zander takes viewers through the creative processes of collecting, writing, and grieving, with the goal of helping others to find ways of sharing their own grief stories. Audience members always leave with a sense of openness, connection, and permission to be vulnerable.
Presented by: Zander Masser
Game Night! April 20th, 2023 | 6-7:00pm (MST)
Woo hoo! It's our annual game night!! Please join us in our virtual world for a night of storytelling, trivia, and fun! Yes, end-of-life game night can be fun!
What Death Doulas Do and Don't Do(ula) Thursday, May 18th, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
The terms "death doula" and "death midwife" may be new, but the role isn't. Before death became a highly medicalized event from which most of us are removed, it was normal to have someone there to support the dying person and their loved ones through the process. This role has been making a resurgence over the past five or so years but given how removed most of us are from the dying process, there is confusion about what exactly a death doula does and does not do and how they can fit in with other end-of-life providers. This presentation will help to explain what training for a death doula may cover and what services they can and cannot offer. There will also be time for Q and A, so please bring your questions!
PRESENTER: McKenna Reinhard
Writing Our Ethical Wills: That Our Lives’ Meanings and Messages Live On Beyond Our Years Thursday, June 15th, 2023 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
Writing an ethical will is an opportunity to examine our lives, and to notice what we hold as precious and meaningful at the core of our beings. What are the values that we have treasured in our living? Who are the people who have shown us the way? How have our mistakes shaped and enlivened us? What are the great questions we have asked in our lives? What are the answers we have discovered? Writing an ethical will is a process of life review, celebration, and legacy.
PRESENTER: Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Congregation Chaverim
Ways to Give
Honor a special person in your life with a gift to Roots & Roads Community Hospice Foundation.
Family Stories
Read the stories of families who have been supported by Roots & Roads Community Hospice Foundation.