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Facing up to end-of-life choices
Maine Hospice Council aims to educate public on topic that is difficult to discuss
By JOEL ELLIOTT
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 10/05/2007

WATERVILLE -- Health-care and legal experts on Thursday evening dispensed advice and listened to concerns on how best to prepare for an experience that everyone will face: death.

Kandyce Powell, executive director of Maine Hospice Council, said one of the most pressing needs Maine has is a space where people can "die in place." As an illness progresses, the person is shifted from bed to bed, each of which comes with a specific license for reimbursement.

This process can complicate end-of-life decisions, she said.

"It's really more about the reimbursement than it is about ease of dying in place," Powell said.

Although the topic of end-of-life issues might seem to be of universal concern, especially in a state that has overtaken Florida as the grayest in the nation, the auditorium on Thomas College campus was mostly empty. This was not surprising, Powell told a scattering of 25 people, most of them who were either health-care professionals or hospice volunteers.

"The reason this room is not full is a statement to how difficult this topic is to discuss," Powell said.

It was the latest stop in a statewide tour aimed both at educating the public on end-of-life issues and also at cataloguing its concerns. Members of the team, which on Thursday included Powell, Dr. Tom Keating of HealthReach Hospice and Volunteers, registered nurse Yekara Freund of Beacon Hospice, hospice volunteer Jo Ellen Cotrell, attorney and Hospice Volunteers board member Mark Nale, and Attorney General Steven Rowe, plan to document the concerns, identify themes and then use the information to potentially make future policy changes.

Powell said people with specific questions about hospice should visit the Maine Hospice Council's Web site at www.mainehospicecouncil.org.

Nale encouraged those in the audience to establish living wills and designate a medical power of attorney.

"We (attorneys who specialize in end-of-life preparations) make sure that our clients tell all of the family members what they want," he said.

Joel Elliott -- 861-9252

jelliott@centralmaine.com

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Reader comments

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Bailey Barash of Atlanta, GA
Nov 5, 2007 12:12 AM
I am a documentary filmmaker in Atlanta, Ga. I've produced a short documentary about end-of-life decision making, caregiving and hospice. It's called 203 Days.
You can view it in it's entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.

http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/days/days.html

If you'd like more information please go to my website

http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm

I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
Bailey Barash
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Bailey Barash of Atlanta, GA
Nov 4, 2007 8:43 PM
I am a documentary filmmaker in Atlanta, Ga. I've produced a short documentary about end-of-life decision making, caregiving and hospice. It's called 203 Days.
You can view it in it's entirety at the following University of Connecticut website along with a study guide.

http://fitsweb.uchc.edu/days/days.html

If you'd like more information please go to my website

http://bbarash.com/bb_203days.htm
I hope this film is helpful to people who want to know more about the most common experiences for caregiver and patient at this difficult time.
report abuse
OldGal of Leeds, ME
Oct 5, 2007 8:16 AM
I suggest that preparing for death makes it easier. Many people think that ignoring a problem will make it go away. This ain't one of those kinds of problems. Not putting affairs in order just makes it much harder for those left behind to deal with issues such as finances, who takes the dog, what happens to great grandma's pendant, etc. I bought a pine box and it sits in my work room waiting for a coat of wood preservative for appearances sake (the family's, not mine). A son in law almost flipped out when he spied it. Not sure why, what's the big deal? Besides if he doesn't take better care of himself, he won't be here to see the event. report abuse

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