Raven’s Call : Aging & End of Life guide in Oregon

A mother bends time. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. Courtesy of David Gaddie at https://beautifuldreamerfilm.com. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER | Omeleto

Which would you choose?

More time alive? Or more time with loved ones?

We never really know how things will turn out, but medical professionals can give you an idea of how a disease will likely progress.

This film explores pros and cons of one person's choice:

In John Kelly’s animated short film, nothing’s off limits when it comes to thinking about the future—particularly when there’s so much left to do. “Retirement Plan” (2026 Oscar Nominee) | The New Yorker

Food for thought.

What are your plans for retirement?

“Retirement Plan.” A short Academy Award-nominated film.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mqa...

#Aging

An alliance rather than a collective. A valuable organization for finding an end-of-life practitioner and for finding out how we can help you: @nedalliance.bsky.social

42% of women are leaving the workforce over lack of caregiver support In a tight employment market, employers that offer less flexibility risk losing working caregivers, according to a Catalyst report.

#Fact: Roughly 500,000 U.S. #women exited the workforce in 2025.

42% of those who voluntarily left cited their #caregiving responsibilities as the main reason.

Employers are restricting flexible #work options & cutting back on hiring.

Women are paying the price.

www.hr-brew.com/stories/2026...

A man cares for his mother. THE WEIGHT OF HOME | Omeleto Drama

Kudos to Jessica Rookeward and Tamiah Bantum for the short film "The Weight of Home," about a family #caregiver and a family member living abroad as their mother's health worsens.

Note: The film description contains many spoilers.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Po...

CW: #AnticipatoryGrief
#TissueAlert

Thanks, Denise!

Great quote. I wish they’d let you elaborate on it.

This looks interesting and useful, Denise. Any chance you have a gift link?

Regardless, thank you for speaking up!

NEDA logo: a simple graphic of butterfly in rainbow colors.

Just attended another wonderful @nedalliance.bsky.social online social for End-of-Life education and support practitioners around the world to gather and get to know each other.

Connecting with others doing the same and similar work in their communities strengthens the work of each of us.

When feeling good doesn’t feel good

Isn’t it great to feel good, even when you’re living with a serious illness like cancer, heart failure, or COPD?

Take that opportunity to meet with your palliative care team!

Here’s why:

www.youtube.com/shorts/AWGh8... (1:30 short)

HT bsky.app/profile/did:...

“If #chemotherapy is a prescribed burn [to clear flammable vegetation in thick forests], I can welcome it in,” I continued. “Not fighting[;] welcoming. This good fire might, of course, cause collateral damage. But it can also alter my ecosystem, allowing my body to regenerate, to heal.”

#cancer

Why do adults treat aging parents like kids? An expert digs into the all-too-common problem of age discrimination in families.

Do you do this to your parent?

When adults treat their aging parents like children, it causes "older adults to question their own capabilities and strengths and lower their self-esteem."

Via Denise Brown, bsky.app/profile/care...

www.futurity.org/ageism-in-fa...

Curry Village Health and Rehabilitation of Cascadia in Brookings, Oregon, is seeking a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to join its skilled nursing team.

Learn more and apply:zurl.co/byPzt

#opportunityknocksoregon #orh #ruralhealth #3rnet #ruralhealthjobs #speechpathologistjobs

#FlightStories🛫
Portland, Oregon > Phoenix, Arizona

Thanks to the generosity of Plusgrade, Paula’s flight was approved. The trip gave her the chance to be at her father’s side during the final days of his life, a time for connection, honesty, and peace.

Flight Story: giveamile.org/flight-stori...

As we approach year's end it's worth a quick reminder:

How’s your End of Life #EOL checklist?

Have you:

👉 Communicated your EOL wishes
👉 A legally binding Advance Health Directive
👉 A Will
👉 An Enduring Power of Attorney
👉 Communicated your EOL wishes again. Yep do it again.

Denise, thank you for posting this gift link.

Another sobering article. Plenty to think about for anyone whose parent(s) is/are still alive.

#AgingParents

Opinion | ‘We Had No Idea What Was Coming’: Caring for My Aging Father

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/o...

Why Do Leaves Change Colors in the Fall? | Britannica In many places around the world, autumn is marked by the slow, beautiful change of green foliage to vibrant reds, oranges, yellows, and purples.

Metaphor can be balanced with science. Do you know that leaves' green fade as chlorophyll production decreases for the winter? Only then can we see their underlying yellow, orange and purple-red colors.

www.britannica.com/story/why-do...

Colorful autumn leaves remind us that as life gets tough or our body no longer works as well as in our youth, we might find ways to discover and show our true colors.

We don't often think of adversity as an opportunity, but the natural world has much to show us when we think in metaphors.

My feet on earth.

Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief (@goodlifedeathgrief.bsky.social) Taking inspiration from the Death Positive Movement, artists Ben Faircloth, Eilidh Nicoll, and Mariana Leal have made films reflecting on processing death anxiety, voicing personal grief communally,…

These are well worth watching. Three short animations, under four minutes each.

Three different approaches to facing death, in three different visual styles. I'd be curious which is your favorite!

#Tip: The Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act (S. 1565) allows you to use Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) or Health Savings Accounts (HSA) on qualified medical expenses for your parents or parents-in-law. 

Currently you can only use FSA or HSA on dependents.

Call your congress rep (202) 224-3121!

#Tip: The Credit for Caring Act (S. 925/H.R. 2036) creates an annual federal #tax credit up to $5,000 for working family #caregivers caring for older parents, spouses & other loved ones while remaining in the workforce. 

It's a start. Call your congressperson today to demand help! (202) 224-3121

Meet Christina, a nature-loving retiree living with MS in an epically unique tiny house, designed to accommodate her medical needs. It's all part of her long-term retirement & end-of-life plan, so she can make the most of every day! 2 Tiny Homes Connected w/ Sunroom! Retiree's dream home to manage MS

Most of us want to die at home.

Christina planned for that when she designed her home. She set up her own home for one-floor living if needed, plus she created a beautiful space for her last days.

Watch 35 seconds to see what she did and why.

youtu.be/HQJH6yib02s?...

#SeriousIllness #E-O-L-plans

Isn’t it?!

l'll bet you, too, can imagine the conversation in that room. ❤️💔❤️

Here’s how:

bsky.app/profile/than...

How did this relate to someone’s last hours?

Hint: I love when a person’s family knows what’s important to them, and is willing to ask for it!

I love it when hospital staff advocates for them, and when doctors allow meaningful actions that might otherwise not be okay.

Kudos to everyone involved!

I’m glad you’re speaking out about this!

Yes, I can see how that would feel weird. For you and maybe for your mom, too.

I’m glad she was able to obtain what she wanted.

Thank you for your thoughts and the suggestion. I’ll ponder.

I’m one of those who will use clunky/shoehorned language as a way of pushing English to catch up!

Hi, Shay. In my experience, medical folks might want to see if there might be conflicts between family members so they can be addressed before an non-revokable action. There’re other reasons, I’m sure, but that’s what comes to mind first.

My condolences to you. The death of a parent can hit hard. 💜