Five Stories of “Good Dying”

Kay Longhi has dedicated 25 years to the end-of-life movement, bringing a wealth of experience from both professional and personal perspectives. With a long career in healthcare management, Kay has witnessed firsthand the complexities of the healthcare system. For over two decades, she has served on the board of End of Life Washington and continues to volunteer with the organization. Beyond her professional contributions, Kay has been a caretaker and end-of-life guide for several family members, deepening her understanding of the challenges and comforts surrounding life’s final stages. Drawing from this extensive experience, she now coaches others on the importance of pre-planning before a healthcare crisis arises. Passionate about ensuring individuals have the knowledge and support to navigate this journey on their own terms, Kay believes that proactive preparation offers invaluable peace of mind during difficult times.

Wendy Norman has been researching and engaging with end-of-life issues for over 15 years. Her interest in the field was sparked in 2006 when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. This experience underscored the critical importance of having a plan in place before illness occurs, particularly when cognitive decline is a factor. Driven by a desire to help others recognize the value of pre-planning, Wendy became an end-of-life planning consultant in 2017. In 2019, she made the decision to leave a successful 25-year career in marketing and program management to dedicate her time and energy to end-of-life planning, education, and awareness. In 2020, Wendy helped create and lead a team of volunteers to launch End of Life Ready, an education and awareness program hosted by End of Life Washington. Building on that experience, she founded Worry-Free Wednesdays to further broaden and deepen end-of-life education.

Robb Miller has spent the past 30+ years as an activist for better end-of-life care and expanded choice. He began his career working as an athletic director and kinesiologist, but after witnessing his father and long-time partner experience bad deaths in the mid-90s, he embarked on a new career in end-of-life advocacy. He was the Executive Director of the organization now known as End of Life Washington (EOLWA), which he led for 15 years. From 2000 to 2015, he served as a Steering Committee Member on the Washington End of Life Coalition sponsored by the Washington State Medical Association. He was also a leader and key spokesperson for the passage of the Washington Death with Dignity Act in 2009.  Robb has been honored to author and co-author several first-of-their-kind advance planning documents, including EOLWA’s Hospital Visitation Authorization for LGBTQ people who were not afforded hospital visitation until gay marriage was legalized in 2012, the Living With Dementia Mental Health Directive, and My Instructions for Oral Feeding and Drinking. Currently, he serves as Executive Director Emeritus of End of Life Washington and on its Public Policy and Legal Committee. He also serves as an advisory committee member for Arizona End of Life Options, End of Life Choices California, and the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Worry Free Wednesdays.