100% of us die.
And for almost every one of us, that is a very scary sentence. We don’t want to talk about it, we would like to think we can avoid it, we seem to believe that if we don’t look, don’t talk, don’t think – it won’t happen.
The result then is that the most common experience we share as human beings becomes one that separates us from each other rather than bringing us together. Today, when someone becomes terminally ill society’s reaction is to withdraw. People are uncomfortable and don’t know what to say. With the result that dying becomes stigmatized. Families become over extended coping in isolation, ill individuals feel like their care is a burden and more and more people don’t dialogue about how we can help each other.
Hospice palliative care is a philosophy of care for the individual and their family during a life threatening illness. It doesn’t accelerate the end of life and it doesn’t represent “giving up”. It is about living life to the fullest possible each day. And for the staff and volunteers at Hospice Waterloo Region it is a life affirming experience we are privileged to share. 100% of us will die. But there is a dignity in how to approach the end if we can just learn more, dialogue more, and come together in understanding and support as members of a compassionate community. Join us for the beginning of the dialogue with Hospice Waterloo Region.
Note: This program takes place on Zoom and Facebook Live.
About Our Speaker:
Judy Nairn, Executive Director Hospice of Waterloo Region A lifelong resident of Waterloo Region, Judy has extensive community experience in her work on volunteer boards. Judy served for 16 years as a trustee on the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, including two terms as Chair of the Board. Judy was also a member of the Board of the United Way of Cambridge and North Dumfries, where she served three years as Chair of the Board. Additionally, she completed two terms as a member of the Board of Governors of St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo, serving as Vice Chair of the Board.
For 11 years, Judy held the position of Director of Business at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services before joining Hospice of Waterloo Region in 2012. For the past 10 years she has been the Executive Director of Hospice, and during that time has successfully led a strategic expansion that included adding programs, acquiring an additional location in Cambridge, and building a new 27,000 square foot facility in Waterloo. With the result that more individuals and families in the Region are now being served during their end of life journey. Judy received the 1999 Distinguished Graduate award from St. Jerome’s University and the 2015 Rotarian of the Year award from the Kitchener Westmount Rotary Club she is currently the President of the Club.
Cambridge Third Age Learning (CTAL) is a movement that encourages learning and discovery experiences for those in the “third age”—the stage in one’s life beyond full-time employment. By cultivating opportunities for discussion and engaging the expertise of local university professors and community professionals, CTAL supports anyone with intellectual curiosity and an interest in life-long learning.
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Be inspired at Idea Exchange in Cambridge! Connect with the public libraries and public art galleries of Cambridge. Idea Exchange supports and inspires our community with an environment of discovery for people of all ages.
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