When the Aging with Dignity founder Jim Towey visited Mother Teresa’s home for the dying in India he was impressed with how people were treated with compassion and love. It inspired him to develop and present Five Wishes to individuals and groups who wanted to communicate their wishes to their families and caregivers of how they wanted to be handled during time when they could not speak for themselves.
The Hongwanji Compassionate Care Committee has engaged Kokua Mau to present this program at each temple as a service to its members, families and friends.
The Five Wishes are wishes for:
The person I want to make care decisions for me when I cannot.
The kind of medical treatment I want or don’t want.
How comfortable I want to be.
How I want people to treat me.
What I want my loved ones to know.
Hope Young, Advance Care Planning Coordinator with Kokua Mau, presented the Five Wishes workshop to Windward Buddhist Temple members, family, and friends after our service on January 27.
