October Digest

I went to bed feeling full last night. Our time together was similar to past months, full of good conversation, exploring territory that for many evoked emotion, curiosity and realization about subjects we rarely have opportunity to engage. I feel grateful for this group every day. See you all next month!

Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s digest.

• Recap

• What’s next

• Homework

Recap

Medical Aid in Dying and VSED. We discussed the legalities and arguments for and against these choices to end your life. We referenced the assigned readings and interviews.

Communication and having hard conversations. We discussed talking with doctors and people in our circles of care regarding end of life decisions. We referenced our assigned reading and personal experiences, which helped provide a framework for watching the movie Prognosis.

Prognosis viewing and discussion. This viewing activated conversations that spanned personal experiences, vulnerability, choosing to die at home, partner roles, identity, denial and attachment.

What’s Next

November 11th, 1-8:30pm This is our last group until our November overnight at the Oregon Coast.

Themes: Navigating the Final Weeks of End-of-Life.

Remembering & acknowledging our ancestral and cultural legacies.

A photograph on display at With These Hands, a community project organized by Barbra Cronin and the Monmouth Senior Community Center. J Jacobson.

Shared Threads…

BGTE Chapters 11-15 These next few chapters take us to the end of life, or when a person takes their last breath, with special focus on symptoms, hospice and palliative care, navigating hospital stays, and experiencing EOL as a caregiver.

Watch Jane’s VSED Journey, found here. We discussed VSED this month and I think this is a valuable, short video testimonial(10 min) from a family caregiver whose mother chose to end her life in this way. Follow it with Rosemary Bowen’s Fast, on the same page which provides a first hand account with valuable supplemental family and medical perspective. Rosemary’s video shows her decline, for folks who need to be prepared for that ahead of time.

Revisit Assigned threads from last month that you missed or need to review. I’m including this because the topics are going to come up again this month and are juicy.

Bring to Group

This dinner will be dedicated to family ties, blood and otherwise, that we want to acknowledge, honor or or celebrate. We will all have an opportunity to share about our people and you are invited to bring food, beverages, photos or memorabilia. There will be an alter space to display items including spaces for candles if you’d like to bring them.