David, my partner of nearly 30 years always said that I was his ‘right arm’. When he died suddenly while we were overseas, just over four years ago, I felt as though all I had left was my right arm. My whole body, my whole sense of self, had completely turned on … Read more
I have just come through another Christmas without David and am being catapulted (it feels) into the forthcoming anniversary of his sudden death in Italy. Being nearly four years in one would hope that I would not only be used to the variety of things people can say (both helpful … Read more
Gina has had some confronting news. “I am a 62-year-old woman. I’ve been diagnosed with heart failure, (six months ago) and this will likely cause my death. At what point should I start seeing palliative care specialists? My cardiologist is coy about discussing this with me.” The diagnosis took … Read more
Wills and enduring power of attorney are needed everywhere and we’ve had a query about them from a pensioner in Western Australia. “Just looking for some advice on wills and enduring power of attorney. I am a pensioner and I live in WA,” she says. “Can you suggest anyone that … Read more
‘A beautiful death’ is an expression few of us feel we have permission to use. Yet writer Richard Flanagan has done just that. Can we say this too? Richard is a Tasmanian author who’s won the Booker Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for fiction writing. His snippet about … Read more
A patient’s perspective about how her “world turned upside down”, is shared in this End-of-Life Essentials video. Here is the link to her story, told in her own words. She shares her thoughts and fears, when first diagnosed with cancer and reflects on how that had an impact on her. … Read more
In Australia, your advance care directive wishes about organ donation won’t be followed if you haven’t taken one crucial extra step. You need to register your donation at donatelife.gov.au, even though you’ve clearly stated in your advance care directive that you want to donate your organs. DonateLife explains. It seems … Read more
We were reflecting on grief recently, when Cockatoo Media’s Body and Soul podcast’s Jason Dasey and Alex Hyndman Hill interviewed me. If you’d like to listen, here is the interview. Alex asked about the good death. “A Good death is defined differently from one group to another. In our culture … Read more
Here is a PDF of the NSW Government’s latest Making an advance are directive booklet. A couple of people at recent Understand Death Better talks in Sydney have asked for the NSW form. So here it is. Making an Advance Care Directive (pdf) It’s a good document because it’s written in easy … Read more
Good Grief! is a great fan of Dying to Know Day. Dying to Know Day happens throughout Australia on August 8. It’s designed to encourage you to become your own advocate about what you want at the end-of-life. This starts with having a conversation about death, with the people who’ll need … Read more
By Rachel O’Connor, Director, Flourix Wealth. Tragedy strikes at any stage of life, as we’re building our family, our home, our financial security. On my website I say: “Many of us have a picture of what our ideal life would look like. A comfortable life, where we have the means … Read more
*This article is by April Creed, Co-Founder of www.myexsitu.com and an experienced Clinician with a background of over 25 years as a Registered nurse and Aged Care Manager. More information about ExSitu can be found in our Good Grief! Business Directory. For even the most organised of people, planning for … Read more
This article was updated on April 25, 2023. It discusses the right to withhold life-sustaining medical treatment for yourself or another. It’s legal. You’re allowed to say ‘no’ to medical treatment. And if you’re the person responsible, you’re allowed to say no on behalf of the person you’re responsible for. … Read more
This is Good Grief’s second reflection on our consumer survey which asks: What is your biggest question about dying and what is your biggest fear? We’ve had 35 responses until sharing this story now. But the survey is on-going, so we’ll continue to share the results – since it will help … Read more
by Sandra Moon. This article was updated on April 13, 2023. It discusses end of life conversations. ‘I feel his organs are shutting down,’ my mother said on the phone. But how? Two days before Mum had rung me to ask for help getting Dad to the emergency ward at … Read more
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