LIFEFLOW'S PILOT RADIO PROGRAM
"LIFEFLOW SHARED STORIES"

LifeFlow's Radio Pilot Series - "Shared Stories"
This series of radio programs collected and wove together stories told by caregivers about their experiences helping people through the toughest ordeals of life; aging and death. Through sharing stories, people can learn how to prepare for unexpected and difficult times. Host, Peter Laufer, invited callers to share their own stories and ask questions on the air, with guest experts from the legal, caregiving and financial points of view. The stories were recorded and have been added to the website. Earwax Productions will archive the radio programs for development into new audio compositions. These new audio compositions will be available on line at www.lifeflow.org from October 2007 until October 2008.

KALW featured "Shared Stories" a radio pilot in a series of three one-hour shows this past June 5, July 3, and August 7th 2007 on 91.7 FM. Below is a description of each one-hour program as well as a link to an archive of the live program.

Decisions and Difficult Conversations
It's often difficult to get an aging parent to make preparations for the big transitions and sudden traumas that are common as we grow older. How do you start those tough discussions? What are the most important steps to prevent accidents and unnecessary suffering? And what do we need to know about legal mechanisms like advance directives, powers of attorney, and living wills?
Guests:Linda Fodrini Johnson, Elder Care Services
Jason Louie, Attorney at Law, Elder Law Expert

Caregiving and Self-Care
When the body and mind begin to fail there can be years when everyday activities like eating, washing, and getting dressed become major challenges. So how can people who have to attend to the most minor details of someone else's life take care of themselves? Are there ways to make the experience more tolerable or even joyful?
Guests:William Fisher, Alzheimer's Association Northern California & Northern Nevada,
Donna Schemp, Family Caregiver Alliance, San Francisco
Beth MacLeod, LCSW with a private practice San Francisco

Hospice Myths and Quality End of Life Care
Helping a person through the end-of-life is a profound experience for anyone. It's often a time of fear and sorrow, but with preparation and support, it can also be life affirming. Where can you turn for help? What's the reality of Hospice? How do you know if it's the right time for Hospice? What about the costs? And how can people who are facing death and those who are taking care of them make sense of the experience?
Guests:Mary Taverna, President and CEO of Hospice by the Bay and Foundation
Beth Witrogen McLeod, author of "Caregivng: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss and Renewal"

Emeryville-based LifeFlow and Earwax Productions, San Francisco were awarded a grant from the Walter and Elise Haas Creative Work Fund to produce "Shared Stories" a pilot radio program and online audio program featuring multicultural and diverse stories about innovative caregiving. Combining music, ambient sounds, interviews and real-life stories from caregivers, this series of twenty five-minute audio compositions is being presented as an ongoing LifeFlow Internet program on elder care.

For more information, contact Deborah Erwin, LifeFlow