On Our Own Terms

New program trains advocates to lead others in discussing end-of-life issues Not so long ago, nearly all children were born in hospitals, with the mother under sedation and the father pacing the waiting room. Now, parents-to-be carefully plan for the birth of a baby, from childbirth classes to dedicated birthing centers, to home births, to doulas. Hospice Austin wants to help people put the same kind of thought toward the end of life as they do toward the beginning. Thanks to a grant from the Shivers Cancer Foundation, we are launching a new program, "On Our Own Terms" to recruit advocates to go back to their communities and educate others on end-of-life issues. After training, advocates are asked to share their new knowledge with some sort of group - their congregation, friends, civic club or neighborhood association, perhaps.  It doesn't really matter as long as people get talking! There are many societal and cultural barriers when it comes to talking about death; advocates can break down some of those barriers in informal coffee table-type discussions with people they know and get friends and colleagues thinking about these issues before a crisis occurs.

“People really need to know what their options are before they’re faced with a crisis so they can make the best decisions for themselves,” said David Zuniga, the program’s outreach coordinator. “We want to give people the confidence and tools to face the end of life on their own terms.” The next  free 12-hour training will be held October 18, 20, and 23, 2010.  Topics to be discussed include palliative care/hospice, advance directives, artificial life-sustaining treatment,  and children and end of life.  For the first time we will offer an advanced training for our veteran advocates, as well.  There is no charge to advocates or to discussion group participants. For more information, please contact David Zuniga at 342-4700 or dzuniga@hospiceaustin.org