“Being Mortal” Explores End-of-Life Care at Free Screening

0 Shares

 

Submitted by Providence Health and Services

Providence and Senior Services for South Sound are proud to present a free, community screening of the documentary “Being Mortal” on July 12 at Olympia Senior Center (222 Columbia St. NW) and July 26 at Lacey Senior Center (6757 Pacific Ave. SW). The time on both dates is 1:00-3:00 pm.

After the screening, audience members can participate in discussion and a guided conversation on how to take concrete steps to identify and communicate wishes about end-of-life goals and preferences.

olympia bingo games
The Olympia Center is located in downtown Olympia on Columbia Street.

“Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores the relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows a surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande’s own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient’s true wishes can be known and honored at the end.

“Being Mortal” underscores the importance of people planning ahead and talking with family members about end-of-life decisions.

Seventy percent of Americans say they would prefer to die at home, but nearly 70 percent die in hospitals and institutions. Ninety percent of Americans know they should have conversations about end-of-life care, yet only 30 percent have done so.

In February 2015, “Being Mortal” aired nationally on the PBS program “Frontline.” Click here for more information about the film. The film is adapted from Dr. Gawande’s 2014 nationally best-selling book of the same name. More information about the book found here.

providence st peter hospitalThe free screening is made possible by a grant from The John and Wauna Harman Foundation in partnership with the Hospice Foundation of America.

For more information about the free screening, contact Providence Advanced Care Planning Program Manager Sandy Adams at 360-493-5377 or sandy.adams@providence.org

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
0 Shares