Hospice enables people facing end-of-life to die at home, or at least in a supportive environment with as much comfort as possible. Unfortunately, about 35% of patients who go on hospice access this service less than seven days before dying. They are literally at death’s door when they enroll.
Even though 75% of Americans say they want to die at home, less than 25% of us do. The Southwest Regional Hospice and Palliative Care Symposium, taking place January 19 & 20, 2024 in El Paso, will help the healthcare professionals in these fields. Physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, health educators, and all other allied healthcare professionals will advance their knowledge and skills supporting patients facing end-of-life. The event takes place at the Starlight Event Center, 6650 Continental Drive, El Paso, Texas.
Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death®, will present “Taking Death Out of the Hospital” at the symposium. She will present comedic and serious film clips about hospice, hospitals, and funeral planning, share her personal stories of hospice deaths, and offer lessons for improving the experience. This one-hour presentation will take place on Friday, January 19 at 12:45 p.m.
Other symposium speakers will cover topics such as palliative care, cancer, pediatric medicine, and pain killing drugs. View the full schedule here. The conference is being held by Hospice El Paso, the city’s first and oldest hospice, governed by a nonprofit organization.
Gail Rubin’s presentation is sponsored by Perches Funeral Homes, which provides funeral, memorial, aftercare, pre-planning, and cremation services in El Paso and the surrounding areas. Rubin will also present a professional development session to Perches staff.
Gail Rubin, CT, is a pioneering death educator who uses humor and film clips to teach about end-of-life topics. An award-winning speaker, she “knocked ’em dead” with her TEDx talk, “A Good Goodbye.” She’s the author of four books on end-of-life issues: A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die and The Before I Die Festival in a Box™. She’s an informed advocate for planning ahead, a Certified Funeral Celebrant, and the coordinator of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival. Learn more at her websites, www.AGoodGoodbye.com and www.BeforeIDieFestivals.com.