Our special guest in May will be Dr. Lewis Cohen, Professor of Psychiatry Emeritus at Tufts University. He is invited to the UCSD Medical School to deliver Medical Grand Rounds on the subject of Death and Dementia. Dr. Cohen will be giving the second Faye Girsh Annual Lecture on Medical Aid in Dying.  You can hear him at noon on Wednesday, May 21st, at the VA Hospital,  3350 La Jolla Village Dr, Room 3004. His talk will be aired on Zoom and you (not the general public) will receive the Zoom link. This is sure to be a fascinating program.

JOIN US FOR A WATCH PARTY: Tickets are now available for a donation of $25 to watch Dr. Cohen’s address with Faye and the Hemlock Society board on May 21st at the Vi La at Jolla Village, 8515 Costa Verde Blvd., San Diego 92122. Please arrive no later than 11:45am to sign in and be seated. We will watch his talk together on Zoom and discuss it over ice cream. This event is limited to the first 40 people who purchase tickets. Click here for tickets We hope to see you there! 

Dr. Cohen has received numerous literary and academic honours. His latest book is Winter’s End: Dementia and Dying Well – Oxford University Press (July 15, 2024). Order the Book  He is also the author of No Good Deed: A Story of Medicine, Murder Accusations, and the Debate Over How We Die —  Harper; 1st edition (March 2, 2010); and A Dignified Ending: Taking Control Over How We Die — Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (August 8, 2023).

Cancer, caregiving, a hastened death at home, and family relationships are the complex themes explored in this magnificent film starring Meryl Streep, William Hurt, and Renee Zellweger. Join us to watch this compelling story unfold and discuss the end-of-life issues it spotlights. The film received an 87% rating by critics on Rotten Tomatoes. This event is free, fun, and open to all. 

Click here to watch the trailer
(1998) Rated R for language
127 minutes

Beverly Thorn, a psychologist and certified End-Of-Life Doula will discuss her new book, Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver, telling her own personal story of caring for her husband with dementia, from the lens of a psychologist and death doula. The book is aimed at caring for the caregiver, who often gets overlooked in terms of their own care needs. Knowledge about the disorder provides a coping base, and planning and ongoing conversation provides the glue to hold the caregiver together during this long trajectory.

The crisis of a dementia diagnosis is sobering, but also an opportunity. Since dementia is not an all or nothing thing, there is time before one loses decisional capacity to consider and talk about their life values, healthcare and dementia care preferences along the dementia trajectory, and their end-of-life wishes. Planning and communication are key in a society where no one wants to talk about dementia or death. Loved ones and potential caregivers also need to be in the know so that they can make life-altering decisions once the person with dementia is no longer able to do so.

Register to receive the Zoom link: Click Here