Help us keep end-of-life care education
and support — thriving!
Oct 1, 2026
Dear Friends,
There are few experiences more deeply human than accompanying one another through the passages of life – through joy and change, aging and illness, uncertainty and loss.
At End of Life Options New Mexico (EOLONM), we believe that no one should have to navigate these tender moments alone. It is a profound privilege to listen, to share information and guidance, and to help people understand the choices available to them as they consider how they want to live, age, and approach the end of life.
At the heart of this work is something very simple: ensuring that people are seen and heard. That their values matter. That their wishes are known. And that they and the people they love can prepare – thoughtfully, compassionately, and with dignity.
Several years ago, EOLONM’s founding board member, Barak Wolff, met with ‘S’ and ‘A’ in their home to talk about end-of-life care and the choices available to them. They continued those conversations together over the years. ‘S’ later became seriously ill and entered hospice care but was still suffering with an unacceptably low quality of life. At that point she knew what she wanted—and ‘A’ knew, too.
After ‘S’ died peacefully at home, with ‘A’ and a close friend beside her, ‘A’ wrote to Barak:
“I remember well your visit to us…where you said all the right things to guide us toward understanding our options and taking control at the end. I thank you now more than ever.”
Their story is one example of why our work matters.
We cannot remove the sadness, uncertainty, or difficulty that can accompany aging, serious illness, and death. But we can help people prepare. We can replace some uncertainty with understanding, some fear with knowledge, and some confusion with a plan. We can help families begin important conversations before a crisis and give people greater confidence that their wishes will be known and honored.
In New Mexico, our work carries urgency. We are a vast state of urban, rural, and frontier communities, where distance, isolation, and limited access to resources can profoundly shape the experience of aging and end-of-life care. For many people, simply knowing where to turn for trustworthy information and support can make an enormous difference. That is why EOLONM exists!
Your generous contribution to EOLONM’s 2026 Annual Appeal will help us reach communities across New Mexico and provide more individuals and families with the information, support, and compassionate guidance they need to plan, prepare, choose, and be heard.
Thank you for being part of a community that cares.
With gratitude,
Julia Bergen
Executive Director