Aging with Dignity is a non-profit organization that defends the rights of all people as they approach the end of life. We were founded in 1996 by Jim Towey, legal counsel and close advisor to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In a letter, she urged him to “defend and protect life, the most beautiful gift of God,” and to “bring God’s love and compassion to the elderly poor.” Her encouragement continues to inspire our mission.
Our Five Wishes program is America’s most popular resource for advanced care planning. It has helped tens of millions of families plan for the end-of-life care they deserve. This legal document is avail able in 33 languages and distributed through a nationwide network of thousands of organizations.
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The last season of life is an opportunity for personal and spiritual flourishing. We provide programs and tools to help today’s seniors leave a lasting legacy of a life well-lived. Mother Teresa’s example of aging provides practical guidance to everyone. You don’t have to be a saint to age with dignity.
21st century technology provides many benefits to society. But, it leads to a misplaced confidence in Big Tech’s latest inventions, like Artificial Intelligence (AI). Human beings are the summit of God’s creation. We are made to love and be loved. Robots, AI, and other technology cannot love. We advocate for policies that protect people from technological abuse.
Dying is not just a medical moment. It is a deeply personal, spiritual, and emotional experience we all will face one day. For over 25 years, Aging with Dignity has helped millions of Americans plan for and discuss how they wish to be treated during times of serious illness.
Our new Assisted Suicide Watch project monitors the rise of legalized physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia and its consequences. It shines light on the driving forces behind this movement and its impact on the most vulnerable people in our society.
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