BATH

Patten Free Library and Mid Coast-Parkview Health are co-sponsoring a series of four programs about aging and end-of-life planning. They are supported in their efforts by professionals from the community who specialize in health care, the law, and financial planning. The “Aging with Dignity” series begins Tuesday, Oct. 11 and ends on Tuesday, Nov. 1. All events are free and open to the public. For the full schedule, visit www.patten.lib.me.us.

Events include:

Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 6- 8:30 p.m.: PBS Frontline “Being Mortal” episode. Frontline follows renowned New Yorker writer and Boston surgeon Atul Gawande as he explores the relationships doctors have with patients who are nearing the end of life. In conjunction with Gawande’s book, “Being Mortal,” the film investigates the practice of caring for the dying, and shows how doctors — himself included — are often remarkably untrained, ill-suited and uncomfortable talking about chronic illness and death with their patients. Discussion immediately following the film with Carl DeMars, MD, medical director of CHANS Home Health Care’s Hospice Program and Crystal Austin, RN, clinical coordinator for CHANS Hospice Care Program.

Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 3-5 p.m.: Advance Directive Workshop. Participants will be guided step-by-step through the Maine Advance Health Care Directive form to update their current form or create a new advance directive with Tim Daigle, funeral director, Daigle Funeral Home; Amy Berube, LMSW, Mid Coast-Parkview Health; and John Voorhees, Esq., Law Offices of John W. Voorhees.

Tuesday, Oct. 25 from 6- 7:30 p.m.: Your Life, Your Choice An interactive discussion about the spiritual, cultural, and other social factors involved in making decisions about health care, how to use that understanding to weigh the risks and benefits of treatments, develop your wishes for end of life care, and how to talk with your doctor about those wishes. Amy Berube, LMSW, Mid Coast-Parkview Health presenting.

Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 1-3 p.m.: Aging with Dignity Panel Presentation. A multidisciplinary discussion about various practical aspects to help you age well, including finances, insurance coverage, legal considerations, housing and care options with Adrianna DeRice, associate attorney of Weiss & Burch, PA; Amy Berube, LMSW, of Mid Coast-Parkview Health; Hope Hussey, LCSW, of Beach Glass Transitions; Jack Leonard, MBA, of Northeast Planning Associates, Inc.

Comments are not available on this story.