Jan 18What is a “dementia directive” to stop eating and drinking?By Judith Schwarz, PhD What is a “dementia directive” to stop eating and drinking? A “dementia directive” is also referred to as an Advance Directive to Stop Eating & Drinking (AD to SED). It is now well known that an adult with decision-making capacity has the right to decide to…Vsed4 min readVsed4 min read
Nov 9, 2022Completing an Advance Directive: Benefits, Pitfalls and RecommendationsBy Judith Schwarz, PhD When completing advance directives, what are some common mistakes I should avoid? Everyone who has wishes for their medical care if they lose decision-making capacity would be well advised to complete an advance directive. Directives go into effect when a person becomes unable to participate in…Advance Directive6 min readAdvance Directive6 min read
Sep 20, 2022How can I (better) advocate for myself in medical situations?By Judith Schwarz, PhD My doctor doesn’t seem to take my concerns seriously or really listen to what I want, what can I do? Patients need to adequately prepare themselves to be “successful” during an appointment with their doctors. Successful preparation begins at home before the appointment occurs. Start by…Patient Advocacy3 min readPatient Advocacy3 min read
Aug 9, 2022Why can’t I simply relocate to access Medical Aid in Dying?By Judith Schwarz, PhD Why can’t I simply move/relocate to New Jersey in order to access Medical Aid in Dying? Many residents of New York and other states without legal access to medical aid in dying (MAID) who live near New Jersey wonder if they could just move to New…Medical Aid In Dying3 min readMedical Aid In Dying3 min read
Jul 8, 2022One of the most significant sources of power is awareness of our options in all facets of lifeBy Naomi Edmondson As part of my Pride celebrations last month, I worked through the End of Life Care Community Advocate Training, created by End of Life Choices New York. I was moved to register for this course because I want to further my understanding of advance care planning for…Knowledgeispower4 min readKnowledgeispower4 min read
Jun 2, 2022VSED: Discussing intentions & obtaining symptom managementBy Judith Schwarz, PhD Despite the growing awareness of voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) as a legal end of life option for hastening death, there continues to be a considerable amount of misinformation and misunderstanding regarding what is involved in this option. …Vsed3 min readVsed3 min read
Jun 2, 2022New Article Series! End of Life Options — Conversations with JudyWhat is this article series you might wonder? Judith (Judy) Schwarz is a PhD-prepared nurse, and has provided end of life counseling for 20 years for adults with living incurable/progressive or terminal illnesses. As the Clinical Director of End of Life Choices New York, she answers questions on a range…End Of Life2 min readEnd Of Life2 min read
Mar 11, 2022Who is the Person in the Hospital Bed?By Sue Checchio, MSc After a sudden illness while on vacation and an emergency scan that revealed a tear in her esophagus, Annie was airlifted to a trauma intensive care unit. …Humanity3 min readHumanity3 min read
Sep 15, 2021Comfort Care Homes: An Exceptional End-Of-Life Resource for Patients and Their FamiliesBy Bethany Gonyea, MS All of us live with the unknown of how our last days will unfold. We can plan for the inevitable, but life has a way of unwinding differently than we had hoped. People may find themselves at the end of life without the finances or family…End Of Life3 min readEnd Of Life3 min read
Sep 1, 2021Hospice Was the Right Thing at the Right TimeBy Ottamissiah Moore, RN I am often asked how I managed to care for my oldest son during his brief battle with cancer. It has been the toughest task as a mother. I have worked as a nurse caring for people at the end of their life my entire nursing…End Of Life2 min readEnd Of Life2 min read
