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Founder-Laurie Miller

Owner/Administrator, Apple Care and Companion

I was first introduced to The Conversation Project in 2016 while serving as president of the Dallas Area Gerontological Society (DAGS). That year, Executive Director Harriet Warshaw delivered the keynote at our Fall Forum.

Her presentation was powerful but the audience’s response was even more telling. Our members are professionals who work with older adults every day: social workers, healthcare providers, hospice staff, senior living leaders, insurance and real estate experts, elder law attorneys, and more. These are people who regularly guide others through aging and end-of-life decisions.

Then Harriet asked one simple question:
“Raise your hand if you’ve talked with your own loved ones about your wishes for how you want to live at the end of life.”

Very few hands went up.

That moment was a wake-up call. If even the experts found it difficult to have these conversations, how could we expect families to do it with ease? I realized we needed to break the stigma around talking about death, dying, and what matters most at the end of life.

The truth is, we all know death will happen. Talking about it doesn’t make it harder, it makes it better. Yes, our loved ones will grieve, but sharing our wishes means less guilt, fewer questions, and more peace of mind. Having the conversation is not a burden; it’s a gift.