End-Of-Life And Caregiving Issues On CPTV

In September, Connecticut Pubic Television will premiere On Our Own Terms: Moyers On Dying, a four-part series airing nightly from September 10 through September 13 at 9 pm. The series, hosted by the award-winning journalist Bill Moyers, presents the intimate, end-of-life journeys of more than a dozen individuals as they and their families struggle to balance medical intervention with comfort and dignity.

In the hopes of initiating conversations about one of the last great taboos — Mr Moyers brings new insights and approaches to caring for people at the end of life. With honesty, humor, courage and controversy, the series breaks through the “culture of denial” to examine how we die, and how we can die better in America. The series also hopes to stimulate dialogue and community action about the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual issues surrounding end-of-life care.

In conjunction with the program, Connecticut Public Television and Connecticut Public Radio will present additional features and community outreach programs that focus on end-of-life and caregiving issues in Connecticut. These programs, special presentations and community resources include:

*In the Checklist of Life, a CPTV original that premieres Sunday, September 10, at 10:30 pm, on CPTV (repeats Sunday, September 17, at 2 pm, and Saturday, September 23, at 6 pm).

Lynn McPhelimy, a Connecticut native and author of In the Checklist of Life, offers an inspiring approach for “putting one’s life in order” in the new program of the game name. When Mrs McPhelimy’s parents were diagnosed with terminal illness within a few months of one another, she struggled to deal with the situation. Confronting her denial, her parents asked if she wanted to be left with questions, or with answers. The one-hour special is filled with compassion, humor and sensitivity for those who are faced with the loss of a loved one.

*Dying with Dignity, another CPTV original, will premiere Thursday, September 14, at 9 pm, on CPTV (repeats Sunday, September 17, at 1 pm). In this special, Jim Vicevich hosts a touching and informative discussion with guests Dr Sherwin Nuland, the author of How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter; Nancy Cobb, the author of In Lieu of Flowers; and members of the Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care, including steering committee chairman Dr James Duffy.

Every day, thousands of Connecticut residents face the difficulties associated with care of a loved one at the end of life. The program presents a range of viewpoints exploring the physical and emotional impact of this process and ways of coping with end-of-life issues in Connecticut.

*Day In, Day Out: The Struggle to Advance Chronic Care is a year-long series of stories on Connecticut Public Radio which began broadcasts in August. The in-depth stories highlight the methods of caring for chronically ill seniors in Connecticut. The stories, slated to air during Connecticut Public Radio’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered, are produced by the award-winning science reporter Nancy Cohen.

*Web site resources can be used by visiting www.cpbi.org. In-depth information on topics related to the many issues associated with end-of-life care and dying are available at Connecticut Public Television and Radio’s Web site. Visitors can read heart-warming anecdotes Lynn McPhelimy has gathered, post messages to the On Our Own Terms: Moyers On Dying site, download a copy of Connecticut’s Living Will, learn about the Connecticut Coalition to Improve End-of-Life Care, and connect to other important sources of information.

*A public information drop-in session at the Connecticut Coalition to improve end-of-life care will be held on Monday, September 18, from 3 to 7 pm, at the Institute for Long Term Care Policy, 300 Research Parkway (second floor) in Meriden.

Visitors can learn about resources and research in Connecticut, find out how to become involved, or chat with members of this diverse statewide organization comprised of 260 members representing individuals and organizations associated with every aspect of the issues surrounding end-of-life care. For directions, call 203/237-4556, Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm, or visit www.canpfa.org/endoflife/index.htm.