JAY – St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church will host a three-week educational series on end-of-life issues beginning at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1.

The program, presented by area members of the Western Maine Palliative Care and Hospice Coalition, is designed to introduce participants to various issues in end-of-life care and to facilitate discussion. Dr. Cameron Bopp, hospice physician and coalition chair, will present the first session, titled “Dying Well: Making Choices.” Bopp will discuss hospice and palliative care as options.

The second program Aug. 8 is titled “Planning Well: Advance Directives.” Bopp will discuss the importance of completing this document, which provides specific instructions for medical care in the event of a terminal illness, accident of other life-threatening event. Advance medical directive forms will be available free for participants who desire them. Participants are welcome to bring family members to the event to assist them in understanding the directive.

The third program in the series, Aug. 15, is titled “Honoring Well: Bereavement and Remembrance.” This session, presented by Kent Wiles, funeral director and bereavement specialist, will focus on the process of bereavement and ways to honor the memories of loved ones to facilitate healing.

The series is part of a continuing effort by the Western Maine Palliative Care and Hospice Coalition to encourage quality end-of-life care for area residents. Coalition members include representatives from several area health care organizations including Franklin Memorial Hospital, nonprofit organizations and University of Maine at Farmington faculty, as well as clergy, physicians, a local lawyer and other professionals and interested individuals.

The series is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. More information on the series and the coalition may be obtained by calling Corey Walmer at 778-5752.

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