During the month of November, Talbot Hospice will offer free screenings of the documentaries Being Mortal and Consider the Conversation in Easton, Oxford and St. Michaels. The screenings are open to the public.November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, the purpose of which is to encourage individuals to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life. The 2016 theme is “Know Your Options.”
In the film Being Mortal, FRONTLINE follows renowned New Yorker writer and Boston surgeon Atul Gawande as he explores the relationships doctors have with patients who are nearing the end of life. In conjunction with Gawande’s book, Being Mortal, the film investigates the practice of caring for the dying, and shows how doctors — himself included — are often remarkably untrained, ill-suited and uncomfortable talking about chronic illness and death with their patients.
The film Consider the Conversation is an intimate story about the American struggle with communication and preparation for life’s end and includes the perspectives of patients, family members, doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy and national experts from around the country. It was produced with one simple goal in mind – to inspire culture change that results in end-of-life care that is more person-centered and less system-centered.
Following each film screening, a panel will be available for discussion. The films are approximately one hour in length, and the discussion will last up to a half hour. Screenings are offered the following dates, times and locations:
November 7, 5:30 p.m. Talbot Hospice (Consider the Conversation)
November 9, 2:00 p.m. Oxford Community Center (Being Mortal)
November 10, 5:30 p.m. St. Michaels Library (Being Mortal)
November 14, 5:30 p.m. Oxford Community Center (Consider the Conversation)
November 15, 2:00 p.m. Talbot Senior Center (Being Mortal)
November 21, 11:00 a.m. St. Michael Library (Consider the Conversation)
“We are pleased to be able to offer these opportunities for the community to learn more about the importance of advance care planning and the options that are available for end-of-life care,” said executive director Vivian Dodge. “We also appreciate the Talbot Senior Center, Oxford Community Center and St. Michael Library for partnering with us to provide this important outreach.”
To register, visit talbothospice.org/eventsor call 410-822-6681.
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