Aging with Dignity is founded in Florida with initial funding from foundation grants and private donations.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Jim Towey launch Five Wishes nationally at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
Five Wishes is introduced in Florida by Gov. Lawton Chiles, described by the Miami Herald as a “living will with a heart and soul.”
Jim Towey appears on NBC’s “Today Show” as demand for Five Wishes increases. Watch Video
Aging with Dignity prevents weakened patient protections in Florida and promotes Five Wishes to state employees, with other states following.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grants funds to expand Five Wishes distribution to workplaces, with circulation reaching one million.
As demand rises, major organizations, including Federated Investors and Fannie Mae, begin providing Five Wishes to employees. Families wrestled with Schiavo-like decisions – Chicago Tribune
Aging with Dignity gains national media coverage during the Terri Schiavo case, distributing over 2 million Five Wishes in a single year.
United Health Foundation funds Five Wishes translations, now available in 33 languages, and Braille used globally in countries like Italy and China.
My Wishes for seriously ill children debuts at the National Child Life Conference, Voicing My Choices for adolescents and young adults.
Towey’s advocacy against the VA’s “Death Book” gains national attention, leading to successful opposition to its guidance for veterans. Read Article
A National Institutes of Health study shows that Five Wishes reduces anxiety in seriously ill adolescents and young adults.
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Aging with Dignity partners with additional major healthcare organizations like VITAS and Johns Hopkins to expand the use of Five Wishes.
Voicing My Choices, developed by researchers at the National Institute of Health based on Five Wishes, is introduced to help seriously ill adolescents and young adults.
Towey and Malley testify before the U.S. Senate, leading to the federal government adopting reimbursable doctor-patient advance care discussions. Watch Video
Teenagers Face Early Death, on Their Terms.
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Carnegie-Mellon and Duke University studies examine the impact of Five Wishes, including its use among African-American communitied.
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine publishes research confirming Five Wishes as an effective tool in patient-clinician conversations. Read Article
Five Wishes reaches 43 million copies in circulation, distributed by 40,000 organizations, and legal recognition in 44 states.
Aging with Dignity offers free Five Wishes during the COVID-19 crisis, and Towey’s Washington Post op-ed advocates for elderly compassion. Read Article
Aging with Dignity surpasses 40 million Five Wishes distributed nationwide with 32 languages plus Braille, thousands of partners, and users in all fifty states. Read Article
Cardinals and bishops endorse Finishing Life Faithfully, a new Catholic guide on end-of-life care, as a companion to Five Wishes.