Hosting a deep discussion: my experience

I recently took a bit of a personal risk – by inviting a number of community leaders to come together to discuss what most would consider to be an almost taboo topic – advance planning for serious illness or end-of-life care. How would people respond? What if everyone felt the subject was just too uncomfortable?

As it turns out, the risk was worth it. The people who joined me for dinner the evening of National Healthcare Decisions Day were open-minded. They were eager to learn more about how to hold important discussions with the people who matter most to them in life – and they were willing to share deeply personal insights about their own experiences and anxieties.

Resources were shared to help those in attendance – and everyone reading this post – start having the kind of discussions that need to be held now – rather than later. Sources of helpful information include The Conversation Project, the national Death over Dinner organization and Regence, which offers industry-leading personalized care support.

For more detailed insights on the broad subject, as well as the dinner I hosted, please read a newly published guest opinion in Idaho’s largest daily newspaper.