The Buddhist Temple of San Diego is kicking off a series of seminars on end-of-life planning to start Saturday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m., and continuing every other month. Shukatsu is a modern concept in Japan and refers to the many aspects of end-of-life planning. Without planning, one’s death causes anguish for loved ones, as difficult decisions are rushed during a period of emotional distress. But such difficulties can be avoided with good planning. The seminars are organized by Mitsuo Tomita, M.D., a local retired family physician, who will be joined by local experts in sharing information and who will serve as moderator. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with light refreshments to follow. In this first session, Dr. Tomita will be joined by Shuji Masuda, RN, who is a certified Shukatsu counselor in Japan, and Akiko Morimoto, RN, CHPN, is a certified hospice nurse and palliative care nurse (CHPN) and is a team manager at Apreva Hospice. Sessions will cover the topics of advance care planning, POLST (Portable Medical Orders), dementia directives, funeral planning and natural alternatives, role of death doulas, how to avoid a “bad” death, Social Security and Medicare, and more. Sessions will be held in the temple’s Annex Hall, the top level of the two-story building in the southeast corner of the temple campus, at 2929 Market Street. Access is by stair or elevator via the main temple building. For growing families, onsite childcare is available during the seminar. Future dates of the seminar include Saturdays on Jan. 25, March 22, and May 17. Visit: https://www.buddhisttemplesandiego.org/all-the-latest/first-shukatsu-seminar-2024-11-23 Buddhist Temple of San Diego on Facebook
