Revisioning Our Dying

Because no one wants to be sick or incapacitated or a burden on others, knowing your options and making decisions early is an essential component for peace of mind and a good death.

The meetings will be Saturdays: September 23, September 30, and October 7, 2023
1:30-3:30 P.M., Fairfield, Iowa, Public Library Meeting Room
Audience: Adults

Speakers: Jennifer Hamilton and Leslie Lundquist

Jennifer is a respected senior in health care and Hospice veteran from the Fairfield community. She is an RN with many years of experience. She has helped many people as a doula, or end-of-life guide.

Leslie Lundquist has lived in Fairfield for 20 years. She has expertise in navigating the many forms and questionnaires that senior citizens fill out to receive help from various agencies. Leslie generously volunteers her assistance to elders who need help with forms for food stamps, Area 15, Section 8, rent reimbursement, and so on. She has experience as an insurance adjuster.

Discussion will include some of the options available as we age and need more care, as well as local services for elder citizens, an exploration the levels of care, medical care elder waivers, and food stamps. It will also address the important question of who pays for these services.

Speakers: Shane Zisman and Jennifer Hamilton

Fairfield attorney Shane Zisman, joined by Jennifer Hamilton, will discuss the importance of assembling the information one’s loved ones will need. Topics will include finances, insurance, deeds, wills, trusts, and powers of attorney that will give directive powers to those one trusts. Family members and loved ones benefit enormously if such matters are decided before any serious mental or physical impairment occurs. 

Speaker: Jennifer Hamilton

The final presentation is led by Jennifer Hamilton. Jennifer will explain The Five Wishes booklet, which addresses your personal, emotional, medical and spiritual needs and how your wish to be treated if you get seriously ill.

You use it to let your loved ones know exactly how you want to be treated in your final days. It covers details such as whether you want music, and what kind; what kind of medical treatment you want; how much company you want; and whether you want your loved ones to hold your hand. It also helps you communicate whatever else you want those who remain behind to know.

Created by the American Bar Association’s Commission on the Legal Problems of the Elderly, it is an easy-to-use document that helps to organize your end-of-life care information and make it accessible to your loved ones.

All of this information can be in what Jennifer calls your Drop Dead Box. It can be a physical file or an easily-located folder on your computer. It will also contain essential documents such as bank accounts, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and of course passwords.

If you need disability-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the library at 641-472-6551 Ext. 1.

Fairfield Cares provides and helps to organize short-term home care services for those in need. It is also working to develop a better home care system to enable elders to stay in their homes as long as possible. A long-term goal is to create a non-profit, homelike skilled nursing facility in Fairfield.  To these ends, Fairfield Cares has been researching and applying for grants.