Living with Dying

Muncie, IN, 1998

In an effort to provide programs and information that would help individuals and families make competent, sensible choices about end-of-life health-care issues, we embarked on this project, exploring these issues with our listening audience and community.

A steering committee of prominent professionals and cultural, social, and religious leaders helped shape the project. In partnership with the Center for Gerontology at the Fisher Institute for Wellness at Ball State University—a highly respected institution with a long history of addressing the needs and concerns of the elderly—we developed a comprehensive program of feature series, documentaries, Town Hall meetings/call-in programs, and a performance program. The steering committee served as a resource center, connecting producers and directors with issues, individuals, and resources related to the topics. Members of the committee conducted workshops with station staff and volunteers to raise our level of understanding, and help us deal with the sobering issues we would face as we carried out the project. Finally, the committee and partner designed a survey to measure the knowledge and readiness of the target audience. The survey results reinforced the need for this effort, with 97 percent of respondents indicating:

"I want to preserve a good quality of life. I do not necessarily want some extra-ordinary medical procedures, and I understand that I might therefore not live as long."

When presented with a list of actions needed to preserve their wishes, however, most people had not taken action. Only 27 percent had spoken with their physician, 40 percent had a Living Will, and 7 percent had discussed their wishes with clergy/spiritual advisor. More than 70 percent had spoken with their families regarding their wishes. These issues were addressed by the series.

The core of the project was the production of a special series ranging from three to five features, which were broadcast during Morning Edition and All Things Considered. "Setting the Context & Perceptions of Death" explored the care choices of two terminal patients, while "Financial Issues" focused on Indiana's long-term health-care insurance medical savings accounts programs. The taped series were packaged with resource materials and offered free to audience members in conjunction with each broadcast, along with steering committee members and others involved with caregiving and planning.

The project concluded with a national conference on preparing for the death boom as the baby boom generation nears the end of life, and a final survey to determine if our target audience had moved from having a clearly stated preference to having a clearly stated plan.

Contact Information

Living with Dying
Stewart Vanderwilt, General Manager
Tel: 765-285-5888

Center for Gerontology
Royda Crose, Project Coordinator
Tel: 765-285-1293

Awards:

WBST Round One
Edward R. Murrow Regional Award for Overall News Excellence
— Radio & Television News Directors Association
Best Feature Piece — Indiana Associated Press
Best Public Affairs Program — Indiana Associated Press