RAINBOW COLLECTIVE ... The Avenidas Rainbow Collective, an organization of local LGBTQ seniors and their friends , is offering a host of events in August. They include a women's social group, a walking group, a song appreciation group, a cell phone photography workshop, a movie night, an older adult social group. A Rainbow Collective contingent is participating in the Silicon Valley Pride Parade in San Jose on Sunday, Aug. 28. For details, go to avenidas.org, or email LGBTQ@avenidas.org.

OPTIONS AT THE END ... In 2021, 772 individuals received prescriptions under California's End of Life Options Act, and 486 people died following ingestion of the aid-in-dying drugs, the state Department of Public Health reported in July. Of the 486, 66% had malignant cancers. Neurological diseases, at 13%, accounted for the second-largest group. More than 88% of those who died were 60 or older, more than 98% had health insurance and more than 91% were receiving hospice or palliative care. More than 85% were white, 52% were male, and 87% had informed their family about their decision to take the aid-in-dying drugs. The 486 deaths last year compare to 495 in 2020 and 484 in 2019. In effect since June 2016, the End of Life Options Act requires that applicants be diagnosed with a terminal disease and make two verbal requests to their physicians at least 15 days apart.