A Members Helping Members Group event
There is an art to dying well that can be taught and learned. While death is inevitable, dying badly is not. Chris Palmer’s talk about achieving a good death will reduce the fear that often cloaks discussions about death and dying and give audience members 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, ensuring a fulfilling and meaningful life right up to the end and achieving a good death when the time comes.
Professor Palmer will 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) to let loved ones know what is deep in our hearts; 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); and options for body disposition after death, especially in an economically and ecologically responsible way.
This talk explores one of the most difficult human topics, helps audience members get 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.
Speaker: Chris Palmer frequently delivers pro bono presentations and workshops to community groups on aging, death, and dying. He founded and leads an aging, death, and dying group for the Bethesda Metro Area Village and is a trained hospice volunteer. He serves on the board of several nonprofits focused on end-of-life issues, including Montgomery Hospice, Final Exit Network, the Hemlock Society, and the Maryland Office of Cemetery Oversight. Chris served 14 years on AU’s full-time faculty as Distinguished Film Producer in Residence. He holds advanced degrees from Harvard and University College London. He has written ten books, including Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life, published in 2024.
Moderator: Eduardo Wallentin, co-Chair of 1818 Members Helping Members Group
Registrations:
In-Person (MC 4-100)
Register here to join virtually by Webex!
Virtual Participation Details
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Meeting number: 2312 465 9742
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