National Programs Update

The Rev. Dr. Paul Smith’s legacy is deeply anchored in his advocacy for end-of-life care, intertwined with his broader mission of social justice and compassion. Entering ministry in 1960, Smith was influenced by civil rights giants the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Andrew Young. Smith marched alongside them in the historic Selma to Montgomery marches. As a prominent member of the Compassion & Choices African American Leadership Council, Smith has been a passionate advocate for end-of-life autonomy. He is the namesake of “Rev. Dr. Paul Smith Award,” given annually to a faith leader who is dedicated to the end-of-life options movement. His work in this area seeks to ensure that the dying process is approached with compassion, respect and understanding, aligning with his broader vision of transforming society into “a beloved community.” Smith’s advocacy for end-of-life autonomy continues to inspire, ensuring that individuals can face their final moments with dignity and peace.

Smith is so committed to our mission that he has named Compassion & Choices as his legacy of choice and is asking his network to contribute to us on his behalf. To honor Smith’s legacy, you too can make a gift to Compassion & Choices in his honor. This act would significantly impact our society, echoing Rev. Smith’s lifelong dedication to greater humanity for all at life’s end.

This year, Compassion & Choices representatives have been featured on several podcasts and radio shows to speak about the importance of advance care planning.

Black Barbers Doc is a podcast created by Steven Starks that brings people together in a barbershop setting to swap stories and discuss all aspects of life. The first episode of the four-part series focused on advance care planning in Black communities was titled “Fades, Fish Fries and Funerals.” It featured Director of Priority Populations and Faith Engagement Zeena Regis and African American Engagement Director Dr. Elisha Hall in a conversation about the significance of equitable end-of-life care and planning in Black communities. On shaping the end-of-life conversation in the Black community, Hall said, “The reason why it is so important for us to have this conversation is because we’re getting behind because we’re not having this conversation.” Regis added that “when we get away from the idea of end of life, advance care planning and estate planning as this taboo subject that’s going to make us ‘catch death,’ we can actually have real conversations.”

The Latino Engagement team, in collaboration with local Ventanilla de Salud pilot programs, made outreach efforts by appearing on multiple Spanish-language radio programs and podcasts in order to more directly connect with Spanish-speaking communities about advance care. Latino Engagement Manager Leslie Martinez Ramirez has appeared on Philatinos Radio in Philadelphia, La Grande Radio in Dallas and two times on Virgen de Guadalupe Radio in San Antonio.

Director of Priority Populations Maria Otero said, “We’re grateful for this opportunity to appear on Spanish-language radio programs across the country in order to reach people in their homes and communities to inform them about the necessity of advance care planning. It’s allowed us to reach people in areas where other forms of communication may not penetrate, especially in remote or rural areas where access to healthcare information might be limited. We are looking forward to more opportunities in the future.”

The Compassion & Choices National Emergency and Palliative Medicine Initiative (NEPMI) aims to integrate palliative care into emergency settings to improve care for those with serious illnesses. The initiative gathers clinicians nationwide to share best practices, enhance patient-centered care and address disparities in end-of-life care. By focusing on managing symptoms, establishing patient goals and reducing unnecessary interventions, NEPMI seeks to improve quality of life and patient satisfaction while reducing hospitalizations and healthcare costs. Despite guidelines recommending early palliative care, widespread adoption remains limited in the U.S.

Compassion & Choices is meeting with thought leaders, including emergency medicine clinicians, to gather information, data and research about the intersection of palliative and emergency medicine. With an online resource hub and new materials, the initiative will reach new audiences and continue to make a difference in hospital settings around the country.

50% of older adults will visit the emergency department in the last month of their lives.

Marshallese Outreach Efforts

This year, Compassion & Choices met with Gay Mathews, director of philanthropy for Applied Hope Foundation, and Dr. Eric Rasmussen, CEO of Infinitum Humanitarian Systems, to review outreach strategies to Marshallese populations across their Pacific diaspora. The Republic of the Marshall Islands, a sprawling chain of atolls and islands in the central Pacific Ocean, is on the frontlines of climate change as one of the world’s lowest-lying nations. The team was invited to travel to Kwajalein Atoll in the summer to address relocation efforts due to rising sea levels, increased storm intensity and diminishing access to fresh water. Compassion & Choices is building the groundwork of support and connection in communities like this to ensure everyone gets the end-of-life resources and information they need and deserve.

Compassion & Choices sponsored the 2024 City of Hope End-of-Life Interdisciplinary Symposium, now in its fifth year, which brought together over 150 medical providers and other leaders in the end-of-life care space. Compassion & Choices staff presented a half-day workshop about advance care planning for people living with dementia. This well-attended session included an interactive role-playing exercise which followed a patient through their journey with early stage Alzheimer’s disease through their last days. At each step, participants and audience members discussed how clinicians, patients and loved ones can work together to document the patient’s values and priorities and ensure the care they receive aligns with those wishes.

Compassion & Choices staff also hosted a panel discussion about how providers in authorized states can navigate a request from a patient for medical aid in dying — from documenting the request to exploring the safeguards built into the various state laws.

Other sessions on the agenda included a discussion about the therapeutic use of ketamine and other psychedelics during the dying process, a panel discussion on the experience of first responders with death and dying as well as several attendees who offered international perspectives on end-of-life care.

In addition to these sessions, the symposium featured workshops on grief counseling and effective communication strategies for discussing end-of-life options with patients and families. There was an emphasis on the latest research and innovative approaches in palliative care, underscoring the importance of a multidisciplinary plan in providing holistic and compassionate care.

Throughout the three-day conference, staff and supporters also met with doctors, nurses, social workers, death doulas, hospice executives, palliative care experts and others to provide them with information and resources they can use in their practice. The event concluded with a commitment to ongoing education and advocacy to improve end-of-life care across various healthcare settings.