Pre-Dead Social Club to host ‘We Wish We Knew That!’ roundtable talk on health care

STRATHAM — The Pre-Dead Social Club will host “We Wish We Knew That! — Insights and Ideas for Saying What Matters, When it Matters Most” on Monday, May 20.

The event is from 6 to 8 p.m. at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth. Attendees will be part of a thought-provoking roundtable discussion between healthcare professionals and caregivers about the roles we all play when it comes to health and receiving whole-person care. The goal of the event is to inspire and develop more effective strategies when it comes to healthcare conversations.

“We Wish We Knew That!” is intended for a diverse audience of individuals, their families, friends, and caregivers as well as members of the broad healthcare community. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own “we wish we knew that” story that will contribute to the discussion.

Individuals and their families find it increasingly challenging to navigate a fractured medical care delivery system that often includes a myriad of specialists with the potential for incomplete record sharing and splintered communication between medical providers. This can result in uncoordinated care that doesn’t always map to personal values and life priorities. These issues get compounded when an individual receives a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis.

During this event, real-life stories and personal insights revealed by caregivers and members of the healthcare community will illuminate the things they wish they had known during healthcare conversations. They will also share suggestions to inspire and encourage you to take an active role in care coordination. You will explore strategies for having meaningful and clear discussions about health and what is important, especially when navigating a diagnosis that significantly impacts daily living or life expectancy.

The roundtable guests include Shannon Calabro, licensed medical social worker; Michele Gravelle, difficult conversations consultant and “reluctant caregiver”; Dr. Sarah MacDuffie, palliative care physician; and Patricia O’Connor, hospice/palliative care nurse practitioner and author of "Navigating Life’s Final Journey: Conversations, Choices, Resources." The group will be facilitated by Laura Cleminson, Pre-Dead Social Club founder and 2024 TedxPortsmouth speaker.

“Our various healthcare providers each own a ‘piece’ of our medical care, but who owns the responsibility to ask the important questions, coordinate the care and connect all the dots— the patient, a spouse, a child, a social worker, your primary care physician? The answers come as a surprise to many,” said Cleminson. “Michele, Shannon, Sarah and Pat will convey relatable stories and insights, which we believe attendees will want to share with family, friends and co-workers.”

The Pre-Dead Social Club cultivates multi-generational communities interested in having compassionate conversations about death, dying and end-of-life, making it a bit easier, less burdensome, and more tenderhearted long before a life-limiting or terminal diagnosis arises.

Tickets for “We Wish We Knew That!” are $10 per person, and advanced purchase is recommended. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.predeadsocialclub.com.

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This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: The Pre-Dead Social Club to ‘We Wish We Knew That!’ roundtable talk