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We started a series on “Being A Compassionate Companion at the End of Life” at Hospice Care of the West. I gave many classes out in the local community and faith-based communities. They were well received and many folks reached out later asking for resources and information shared within my presentations that they could share with their family and friends. As the season of fall is upon us, the sun filled days are giving way to longer dark nights. It is not an easy time for people facing the end of life both for patients and families. My hope in sharing this series that some folks will receive insight to spark meaningful conversations as they gather with family. If you have any questions or if you would like me to share this presentation with your community, leave me a note in the comments section. You can download the presentation here. HCOTW Facing The End Of Life W Someone You Love FINAL 2

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Our Life Celebrations is a blog sponsored by Hospice Care of the West about how individuals, families and communities are reinventing their roles with new rituals to celebrate rather than alienate the end of life. Denise Carson, the blog author, writes a column for the Orange County Register and is the author of the forthcoming book Parting Ways: New Rituals and Celebrations of Life’s Passing. While researching her book, she discovered that 80 percent of Americans wish to take their end-of-life journey at home surrounded by family and friends, but less than 20 percent actually do. Hospice can help us make these wishes happen for those we love while opening the door for life celebrations that gather the family to video record a legacy of life stories, reminisce at a living wake with live music or make a last wish like a last sunset sail on the Pacific happen. These kinds of memorable moments are possible with the preparations and plans explored on this blog. Life’s final frontier doesn’t have to be a journey into the unknown, if you’re prepared with the knowledge to leave a new kind of legacy that will live on generation after generation. Below are links to Carson’s Orange County Register columns. Cleaning Out My Mother’s Closet http://www.ocregister.com/articles/life-258322-closet-review.html A Living Tribute For Bill Before He Goes http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bill-262297-senior-family.html Recording Her Life Stories on Video http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stephanie-266221-family-camille.html Students Turn Her Stories Into a Life Movie http://www.ocregister.com/articles/stephanie-271327-life-says.html Music Therapy: A Jam Session at the Deathbed http://www.ocregister.com/articles/jacob-276079-andrea-steve.html The Last Holiday with Mom, Passing on Traditions http://www.ocregister.com/articles/christmas-280766-mom-bed.html

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