The Orange County Department on Aging invites the public to attend a discussion on the, Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED): A Little Known End of Life Option.
The discussion will take place on Thursday, March 7, from 5-7 p.m. at the Seymour Center, located at 2551 Homestead Road in Chapel Hill.
As modern technology prolongs our lives, a life well-lived can often end with a long and painful struggle. Increasingly there are more end-of-life options available that afford greater personal control over the time and manner of death. A “good death” is more likely when medical practitioners and those supporting the dying person are more informed about these options.
The Project EngAGE End of Life Choices Senior Resource Team, a program of the Orange County Department on Aging, proudly hosts Elliott and Susan Schaffer for a discussion of the medical, ethical and legal issues involving VSED. They will share the end of life story of Susan’s mother, Beatrice Belopolsky, a resident of a retirement community in New Jersey.
Elliott Schaffer, MD, is a retired geriatrician who was formerly the Medical Director at Martins Run Life Care Community in Media, Pa. Susan Schaffer, JD, is a retired attorney who was formerly Senior Counsel at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
The event is free and open to the public.
Participants are asked to register by Wednesday, March 6. For more information and to register, please call the Seymour Center at 919-968-2070
Legal Aid of North Carolina discusses free legal services for seniors and low-income individuals at monthly sessions at senior centers
Legal Aid of North Carolina, Inc is a non-profit, federally funded organization that provides free legal assistance, advice and representation to low-income individuals and senior citizens on a variety of non-criminal legal issues. At the senior centers they execute Simple Wills, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Health Care Powers of Attorney.
Each monthly session opens with an hour-long presentation on "Consumer Protection Law." A Legal Aid attorney will talk about laws that safeguard our finances and protect us from financial exploitation. This series will include six separate workshops on various topics including scams, identity theft, elder abuse, managing credit and debt, and unfair debt collection.
Legal Aid is also available for questions regarding Wills and Advanced Directives. After the presentation the attorney will be available to provide one-on-one confidential advice.
To schedule an appointment: Call Melany Earnhardt, Esq., at Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-533-2015.
Passmore Center, 103 Meadowlands Dr., Hillsborough
Thursday, February 28 and April 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Seymour Center, 2551 Homestead Rd., Chapel Hill
Thursday, March 28 and May 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.