The Hospice Foundation of America selected K-State Center on Aging as one of the hosts for community screenings of the PBS’s report, Being Mortal. The 55-minute documentary is based on Dr. Atul Gawande’s 2014 bestselling book of the same name. The screening will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, in the Community Room. The movie is free of charge and will be followed by a short discussion and questionnaire. Being part of Dr. Matt’s book club is not a requirement to attend the film screening. All are welcome and we hope to see you there!

“Being Mortal” delves into the hopes of patients and families facing terminal illness. The film investigates the practice of caring for the dying and explores the relationships between patients and their doctors. It follows a surgeon, Dr. Atul Gawande, as he shares stories from the people and families he encounters. When Dr. Gawande’s own father gets cancer, his search for answers about how best to care for the dying becomes a personal quest. The film sheds light on how a medical system focused on a cure often leaves out the sensitive conversations that need to happen so a patient’s true wishes can be known and honored at the end.

The free screening is made possible by a grant from The John and Wauna Harman Foundation in partnership with the Hospice Foundation of America.