It’s Official! EOLONM is a Federally Recognized 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization.
Almost nine months after applying to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax-exempt status, End of Life Options New Mexico recently received notice that our application has been approved!
With this official IRS 501(c)3 non-profit organization designation, all contributions made to EOLONM to fulfill our mission will be tax-deductible. Click to find out how you can support EOLONM.
This exciting news came just as we reported out the significant achievements made in our first year of service. Our 2021 First Annual Report was published and posted in March and gives readers a glimpse into the hard but rewarding work of starting a nonprofit organization, helping to implement the new End-of-Life Options Act, and providing meaningful services to New Mexicans who are facing the end of their lives. Download the Annual Report and read more about our new journey of service.
Volunteer Appreciation: Jan Wilson
Our first year of service was made possible by an incredible group of volunteers that spent much time and effort building our organization while delivering valuable services to the public. All of these volunteers deserve our gratitude for their hard work and passion they bring to the work.
If you live in Albuquerque, you’ve probably seen or heard her talk about planning for the end of life. For years, Jan Wilson has been informing New Mexicans about the options available at the end of life and how you can express your preferences to family and friends and in your advance directives.
As a volunteer for EOLONM, Jan’s role has expanded in recent months to include much more. Yes, you will still see her out and about talking with community groups and at conferences, but now Jan is also working to extend EOLONM’s capacity by serving as our Public Outreach & Education Volunteer Coordinator for North and Central New Mexico.
Over the past few months, Jan has spent countless hours working with others to create a volunteer orientation and training program and to mentor those who want to volunteer with EOLONM. She’s helped to put together an entire volunteer program, including training, a Volunteer Manual and lists of learning resources for volunteers.
Jan also serves, alongside volunteer Revathi A-Davidson, as co-chair of the Public Outreach & Education Committee. In this capacity, Jan helps the organization ensure that our work with the public is mission-driven, so that people have a clear understanding of their rights at the end of life and all the options available to them in New Mexico. The committee also helps to determine where and to whom EOLONM outreach and education efforts will be focused.
Jan brings her years of non-profit experience, her public education know-how and her passion for explaining the importance of advance care planning to this important work. “EOLONM could not be more fortunate than to have someone of Jan’s caliber helping us to get the word out about advance care planning and end of life options. She’s a gem!” says Jill VonOsten, Vice-Chair of EOLONM’s Board of Directors.
If you plan to visit any of Albuquerque’s public libraries, senior, or community centers over the next few months, you are likely to run into Jan or one of our other trained volunteers. This spring and summer EOLONM will present on topics of Advance Healthcare Planning (AHP) and End of Life Options (EOLO) across the city. Don’t miss it!
You can attend these presentations free of charge at these locations:
- April 12 2-3:00 pm Thomas Branigan Library, Las Cruces, Nat. Healthcare Decisions Day
- April 14 3:30-5:30 pm Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (UNM Cont Ed), ABQ, EOLO
- April 18 3:00-4:30 pm Erna Fergusson Library, ABQ, EOLO
- April 28, 29, 30 NM Nurse Practitioner Conference, Hotel Albuquerque, Info Table
- May 7, 2-3:30 pm, Taylor Ranch Library, ABQ, AHP
- May 12 9:15 – 11 am Highland Senior Center, ABQ
- June 18 2 – 3:30 pm Cherry Hills Library, ABQ, EOLO and AHP
New Mexico Social Workers Learn About the End-of-Life Options Act
EOLONM provided the keynote address to 656 attendees of the National Association of Social Workers – New Mexico chapter during their 41st Annual Conference – Social Work Reimagined – held at Sandia Resort on March 25, 2022.
A panel of experts discussed Medical Aid in Dying: New Mexico’s New Law and the Role of Social Work in Practice and Advocacy and fielded questions from both the in-person audience and those who attended online. The panel included University of New Mexico’s Professor Emeritus and EOLONM Legal Policy Advisor Rob Schwartz, MSW and EOLONM Clinical Outreach and Client Services Advisor Nancy Abell, and LCSW and New Mexico State University’s Assistant Professor of Social Work, Erika Gergerich.
The March 25th presentation was recorded and will be available later through NASW-NM for viewing and Continuing Education Credits. For more information contact: conference.naswnm@socialworkers.org or look for future updates from EOLONM as to when that recording will be available.
EOLONM Honors Nurses
End of Life Options New Mexico and Compassion & Choices were proud to sponsor this year’s New Mexico Nursing Excellence Awards on April 2nd at Hotel Albuquerque.
The Nursing Excellence Awards, hosted by the NM Center for Nursing Excellence, were created by nurses, for nurses, to recognize excellence in nursing practice and honor nurses for the contributions they make to their organizations, communities, and the state. Awards are given in 19 nursing specialties to recognize excellence in practice.
These were actually the 2021 Nursing Excellence Awards. The ceremony that had originally been scheduled for the fall of 2021 had to be rescheduled due to COVID precautions. The delay was a poignant reminder of the incredible sacrifice, dedication and commitment to their profession that nurses throughout the state have demonstrated throughout the pandemic. Now, more than ever, it felt important to recognize and honor their service and excellence.
Jill VonOsten, EOLONM Board member and C&C NM Campaign Organizer and Bob Drake, C&C Director of Medical Outreach, presented the Distinguished Nurse of the Year Award to Heather Black, New Mexico Department of Health. There were over 650 people in attendance representing all areas of New Mexico. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees and honorees.
Las Cruces Health Fair
There was a great turnout in Las Cruces for the community health fair this past Saturday, April 2, 2022. EOLONM volunteers MaryKay Brady, Mary McLaren and Julie Robert-Sala hosted an information table at the Health Fair sponsored by Mesilla Valley Pharmacy, in association with Burell College of Osteopathic Medicine.
It was beautiful spring day and lots of community members came by to say hi and learn about the Elizabeth Whitefield End of Life Options Act and advance care planning.
Recorded Doula Presentation Now Available
On March 16, 2022, EOLONM and the American Clinicians Academy for Medical Aid in Dying (ACAMAID) presented Death Doulas, End of Life Options and Aid in Dying. Presenters MaryKay Brady, a trained End of Life Doula and a member of EOLONM’s Board of Directors and Thalia DeWolf, experienced hospice RN and Director of Nursing Education for ACAMAID defined the term “death doula” and gave an overview of the doulas role in supporting the individual’s end-of-life choices, including medical aid in dying.
Last month’s well-attended virtual presentation had more than 70 people in attendance including individuals with terminal illnesses and their families, trained doulas, hospice staff, social workers, nurses and physicians to mention a few. If you missed this informative presentation, now you can view a recording or download the slides. Click here.