End of Life Planning

The end of life is part of the human condition. It's hard on families and difficult to navigate. Speakers in Calvary Episcopal Church's Common Ground series yesterday say the key is planning, particularly on the part of the dying individual.

For Deborah Waldrop, years of helping families cope with terminal illnesses have reinforced her commitment to her work.  The professor at the University at Buffalo School of Social Work sees advance directives as more than a "check of the box" in making final arrangements. "The end of life is a time when there's still growth and change happening."

It's something that is inevitable. But to many people, talking about death, and preparing for it, is seen as a "taboo" topic. Even many doctors struggle to engage in conversations with patients about desired care right up to the moment when life ends. A conference will be held in downtown Buffalo Saturday that addresses the sensitive subject.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Columnist Ellen Goodman is in Buffalo today to talk about "End of Life Planning."  Goodman is the keynote speaker for the P2 Collaborative of Western New York's 8th annual conference.