The "Just Talk About It" Project

After working to help all people with end-of-life issues for over 5 years, the Take Charge Partnership joined the Coalition for Quality at the End of Life in western Pennsylvania. Soon after, Take Charge members were asked to contribute to a report to Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Improving End-of-Life Experiences for Pennsylvanians: Report and Recommendations by the Task Force for Quality at the End of Life. We made substantial contributions to the chapter on "Addressing the Community," and after the report was issued, we took up the challenge of raising public awareness.

In 2006, we partnered with Chatham University to sponsor "Just Talk About It," a "Community Conversation." Following that, we began planning a video project to continue our "Just Talk About It" theme, covering the recommendations in the Report to the Governor. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging agreed to assist in the production of 12 one-minute videos suitable for broadcast television or the Internet. Working with Greater Good Productions, we completed four sets of videos to encourage people to "just talk about" designating a health care agent; considering palliative care and hospice; providing care for loved ones; and, managing pain. In 2010, we completed a toolkit so assist users in groups or on their own.