Upcoming Events

Current Month

December

wed04dec3:00 pmwed4:30 pmZoom - Charting Your Own Exit: Understanding End-of-Life ChoicesA public forum hosted by Senator Catherine Blakespear

sat07dec12:00 pmsat1:30 pmSaturday Zoom Presentation: Do Not Resuscitate, Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking, and Palliative SedationHosted by Hemlock Society founder Faye Girsh

sun08dec1:30 pmsun3:00 pmDementia and Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) featuring Thaddeus PopeLive on Zoom

wed11dec4:00 pmwed5:00 pm*DATE CHANGE* How to Write a Legacy Letter and Ethical Will with Chris PalmerVirtual Workshop on Zoom

Time

December 11, 2024 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm(GMT-08:00)

Event Details

*Please note the date change, this workshop was originally scheduled for December 4th at 4pm Pacific.

Many of us want to share what we’ve learned and what we hold dear with future generations. A legacy letter or ethical will allows us to pass on our values, stories, and life lessons to our loved ones. It’s a way to express our love and gratitude to those who will carry on after us.

Chris Palmer, author of the new book Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life and Hemlock Society of San Diego Board Member, will lead a workshop on writing a legacy letter or ethical will. This process is deeply rewarding, allowing you to preserve your memory and legacy. Your loved ones will find inspiration, comfort, and guidance in these documents, gaining a deeper understanding of who you are. Legacy letters and ethical wills are cherished ways to pass on your hopes and the personal insights you want future generations to know. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have made significant progress toward completing the first draft of your legacy letter or ethical will.

Sign up to attend

This workshop will be hosted live on Zoom. Advance registration is required, sign up HERE. This event is free and open to the public. This workshop is a repeat of the workshop held on November 17th, 2024.

Workshop materials:

Legacy letter handout

Examples of legacy letters

Workshop presenter:

Chris Palmer is an end-of-life activist and a trained hospice volunteer. He frequently gives presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying issues. He founded and leads an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village, and serves on the board of several nonprofits focused on end-of-life issues, including Montgomery Hospice and Prince George’s Hospice, Final Exit Network, Funeral Consumers Alliance, and the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight, in addition to Hemlock Society of San Diego.

Chris has written ten books — the latest, to be published by Bloomsbury on October 1st, is Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life. To learn more, visit www.ChrisPalmerOnline.com. Proceeds from all his books fund scholarships for American University (AU) students. Chris Palmer served 14 years on AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard’s Kennedy School (in Public Administration) and University College London (in Marine Engineering). Before becoming involved in end-of-life issues, he spent forty years as a wildlife and conservation filmmaker.

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sun15dec1:30 pmsun4:00 pmYou Don't Know JackRight to Die Film Series screening

January

thu23jan3:00 pmthu4:00 pmAuthor Talk on "Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to End of Life"Zoom event with author and Hemlock Society board member Chris Palmer

Time

January 23, 2025 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm(GMT-08:00)

Event Details

Hemlock Society board member and end-of-life activist Chris Palmer will share from his new book, Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to End of Life, and take questions about how to meaningfully prepare for the end-of-life.

All are welcome to attend, reading the book ahead of time is not required and the event will be of interest to anyone with a desire to learn how to properly plan for a good death.

From the publisher:

Death is inevitable, dying badly is not. A good death is achievable, and this book explains how.

There is an art to dying well that can be taught and learned. While death is inevitable, dying badly is not. This practical guide to achieving a good death will reduce the fear that often cloaks discussions about death and dying and give readers the knowledge and skills to achieve a peaceful and gentle death.

With the multiple options available at the end of life, people can design and direct their end-of-life journey so they have as fulfilling and meaningful life as possible right up to the end and achieve the elusive good death when the time comes. Chapters focus on essential elements of living well and preparing for a good death including:

Death cleaning so we don’t burden our loved ones with a big mess
Talking with loved ones and doctors about our end-of-life wishes and aspirations so they know what matters to us and how we want to be treated
Writing a legacy letter (an ethical will) and a memoir to let loved ones know what is deep in our hearts.
Understanding caregivers, an under-appreciated group of people, usually unpaid women, who number in the millions.
The benefits of palliative care, hospice care, and end-of-life doulas and the necessary vigilance to get the most out of these essential services.
End-of-life options, including medical-aid-in-dying (MAID) and voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED).
What it’s like to die and how to help people as they die.
Options for disposition of the body of a loved one (or your own body) after death, especially in an economically and ecologically responsible way
Planning commemorations and celebrations of life.
The nature of grief, including how to deal with it, and why it is often unbearably painful.

This thoughtful and gentle guide, exploring one of the most difficult human topics, equips every reader with the information they need to overcome the anxiety and confusion that so often overwhelms end-of-life planning so they may intentionally plan for “a good death” that will provide comfort for all during one’s final act.

Buy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Achieving-Good-Death-Practical-Guide/dp/1475850514/

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sun26jan1:30 pmsun3:00 pmEnd-of-life planning with AlzheimersFeaturing Alzheimer's San Diego

Time

January 26, 2025 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm(GMT-08:00)

Event Details

*Please note that this event is taking place on the 4th Sunday of the month, rather than our regular 3rd Sunday schedule*

Do you know someone who is experiencing memory loss or other cognitive decline? Is someone in your life affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementia? Join this presentation to learn more about the free services and programs offered by local organization Alzheimer’s San Diego to support those affected by these diseases and their caregivers. The presentation will cover the scope of dementia in the USA, offer some end of life suggestions for planning purposes, and share how to access our organization’s services.

About Alzheimer’s San Diego

Alzheimer’s San Diego is a local, regional organization that provides free services and support to people living with dementia and their caregivers. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of those affected by all dementias in San Diego County through supportive services, education, social connection, and community awareness. We want to make a future where every person impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias can live with dignity and respect. We envision a compassionate community that is well-informed and equipped to provide support to those impacted by dementia.

About the presenter

Nellie Hernandez, Bilingual Dementia Educator, Alzheimer’s San Diego

Nellie is a Bilingual Dementia Educator with Alzheimer’s San Diego, where she provides education to individuals, families, and community members. She has worked with families of various backgrounds for over 30 years in social services, education, and mental health fields. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from SDSU, and a Master of Science in Counseling from University of Phoenix. Her goal is to continue to use her culturally sensitive and inclusive approach to empower others.

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February

sun16feb1:30 pmsun3:00 pmLive Reading of "Shared Conversations"