At Foothills Compassionate Care, we believe in empowering individuals and families with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate life’s most challenging moments.
“I Wish I Knew” Educational Series
At Foothills Compassionate Care, we often hear the words “I wish I knew…” from families navigating serious illness, caregiving, and end-of-life decisions. Too often, people face these deeply personal moments without the information, tools, or support they need.
The “I Wish I Knew” Educational Series is our response—a community-focused program designed to educate, empower, and prepare individuals and families before a crisis occurs. Through expert-led sessions, open conversations, and practical resources, we shine a light on the topics that matter most but are often left unspoken: hospice and palliative care, advance care planning, caregiver support, grief and loss, and navigating healthcare decisions with compassion and clarity.
Whether you are a caregiver, a concerned family member, or simply planning ahead, these sessions offer guidance, connection, and peace of mind. Because the more we know, the better we care—for ourselves and each other.
Together, we can replace “I wish I knew” with “I’m so glad I did.”
I Wish I Knew:
Upcoming Five Wishes Events
First Week in December 2026
Foothills Compassionate Care Office
Five Wishes: Advance Planning Workshop
Are your wishes known?
Have you had the conversation?
“I Wish I Knew: Five Wishes” is a hands-on Advance Care Planning workshop that uses the nationally recognized Five Wishes document to help you:
- Explore what matters most to you
- Clarify your end-of-life preferences
- Start meaningful conversations with the people you trust
Life is unpredictable. Having a clear plan brings peace of mind—not just for you, but for your loved ones. Even if you already have an Advance Health Care Directive, Five Wishes goes deeper, offering a holistic approach that covers personal, legal, and emotional values alongside medical care.
Join us for a future event where you can explore these decisions in a safe, supportive environment. Preparing now ensures your wishes are honored and helps ease the burden on those you care about.
Helpful Resources:
Five Wishes Document:
A plain-language living will that helps you express your wishes for medical, legal, emotional, personal, and spiritual care. Recognized in many states—including California—as a valid legal document.
👉 Request a copy below
Advance Health Care Directive (California):
Ensure your healthcare preferences are documented and honored.
👉 [Access the Form]
National Institute on Aging – End-of-Life Planning Checklist:
An easy-to-follow checklist for organizing your documents and making key decisions for the future.
👉 [View the Checklist]
Meet Your Instructor
Elizabeth “Liz” Dreher, MS, RDN, Community Relations Manager
Liz Dreher brings a compassionate heart and a deep well of experience to the I Wish I Knew Educational Series. A fourth-generation Nevada County resident and a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist since 2006, Liz has spent her career supporting individuals and families through every stage of life—including its most sacred transitions.
She holds a master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from Oregon Health & Science University and has served in diverse roles, from pediatrics to end-of-life care. Liz joined Hospice of the Foothills as a Clinical Dietitian, providing comforting guidance on nutrition during serious illness. She went on to lead quality and compliance efforts through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and now serves as Community Relations Manager at Foothills Compassionate Care.
Five Wishes
Would you like more information, or are you interested in booking a speaker?
Supportive Information & Resources
Here is a collection of information and resources that our experts use and share with our patients, families, and friends.
TED Talk by BJ Miller
Gain insight from palliative care expert BJ Miller on how to live fully through the end of life.
Hospice Nurse Julie
Real-life advice and insights on dealing with death and dying, provided by Nurse Julie.
Mettle Health
A first-of-its-kind place for anyone confronting illness, disability, aging, or death. We can’t change a diagnosis, but we can change how you navigate it.
The Caregiver College Video Series
An educational resource for caregivers and covers the following topics:
Books
A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death by BJ Miller and Shoshana Berger
The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully by Frank Ostaseski
Barbara Karnes, RN Award Winning End of Life Educator, Award Winning Nurse, NHPCO Hospice Innovator Award Winner 2018 & 2015 International Humanitarian Woman of the Year.
Radio, Theater & Art
Radio: “Embracing the Journey”: A radio program that explores end-of-life issues with honesty and compassion. Listen here.
Theater: “Death Herself”: A thought-provoking performance exploring themes of death and dying. Find out more.
Art and Afterlife: Explore how artists address themes of death and the afterlife. Visit SFMOMA, TalkDeath’s artist feature, or The Met’s video talk.
Games
Card Game: The Death Deck: A conversation starter about death and dying. Learn more.
Video Games: Explore games designed to help process grief and loss. Safe in Our World and games about death and grief.
Videos
2014 Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Short Subject. The film breaks through the walls of one of America’s oldest maximum security prisons to tell the incredibly moving story of the final months of the life of a terminally ill prisoner.
End Game weaves together three stories of visionary medical providers who practice on the cutting edge of life and death.
How do you talk about death with a dying loved one? Dr. Atul Gawande explores death, dying and why even doctors struggle to discuss being mortal with patients, in this Emmy-nominated documentary.
From Executive Producer Bradley Cooper, this is the story of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the challenges and joys of this deeply meaningful work. Intertwining intimate personal stories with the untold history of caregiving, the documentary reveals the state and the stakes of care in America today. Narrated by Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Orange is the New Black), directed by Chris Durrance.
Mix 96’s “Good Deeds” program is a segment on the Sacramento-based radio station that focuses on highlighting and promoting community service and charitable activities.