You’ve got a (small) opportunity to fill in a survey about palliative care in NSW, until December 15, this year (2017). The NSW government has promised to spend an extra $100 million over the next four years for community-based palliative care services, on top of the money it already spends. … Read more
Julie’s father passed away in August, 2014: “We had all gathered to be there with him when he died and we were ready to let him go. “He’d been married to my stepmom, Monica, a beautiful Italian Catholic, for about 35 years, but we are Jewish. The Jewish tradition is that … Read more
Love the way these baby-boomers are rethinking the end, turning old ideas on their head, the way they always have – while making friends and tap-dancing.
Troubled stories from recent deathbeds remind me of a sign at my daughters’ old school: “Beware falling pods!” The sign sat at the base of an enormous native fig tree and when those pods fell, they were like malevolent missiles. Dropping from a great height helped the pods to crack … Read more
I’m wondering: would I be game enough to host one of these dinners? My family are coming over for dinner tonight….. Thanks Susie P. for letting me know about this fascinating conversation starter. http://deathoverdinner.org.au/
When I first started writing my book We’re All Going To Die there weren’t many public conversations on the subject of death, but since then it has really moved along. Sadly, however, it hasn’t moved fast enough. I’d like to see death education brought more widely into medical schools, for … Read more
A story about the developing work of death doulas can be found on Page 90 in the October issue of The Australian Women’s Weekly, available now. The introduction: “There is a quiet, serene revolution going on in the way we farewell our loved ones. Caroline Baum meets the women, known as … Read more
Yesterday I signed on as a dear friend’s next-of-kin, through the NSW police program. My friend lives alone and registering her form with her local police station means if she’s involved in an accident or major incident, I’ll be informed, so will be able to support her. I’ll let her … Read more
Today, a story of successful support from Dorothy Kamaker and her team for Sandra. Dorothy is one of those advocates we need more of: she helps people navigate our confusing modern health care system to get the style of care they want – whether minimal or all out, usually … Read more
When Elaine Searle was a young woman her beloved uncle was buried and she was shocked by how bad the funeral was. “His coffin just slid out of sight, after a few platitudes were said. There was nothing personal.” “Even though I was only in my early 20s I thought … Read more
“With impending death, the circulation slows, the heartbeat weakens, and the breathing gets slower or more irregular, but just as the heart beat and breathing case, the brain seems to have a burst of activity.” – So says Dr Michael Barbato in a recent interview. The interview can be found … Read more
I spoke to Suzan last week. Hers is a disturbing but common story. I’m going to talk to palliative carers about what went wrong and report back on how to avoid this happening to you. When Suzan’s brother Frank was dying of a rare brain disease he was in an … Read more
Patient advocate Dorothy Kamaker reports this note from the coalface in her advocacy work. “Deirdre wanted her 93-year-old mother Helen to be allowed to die. Helen had been three weeks in hospital with a terminal illness and was being “tortured” by futile treatments with no hope of recovery. For Deirdre, … Read more
When Mel’s mother Dorothy Richard died, Mel and her husband Gav decided to handle the probate themselves, without getting a solicitor involved. So what is probate? The West Australian public trustee has a good definition: “Probate is the process of proving and registering in the Supreme Court the last Will … Read more
Just the sort of conversation we need: thought provoking discussion over a cup of tea. The program looks great and the speakers inspiring. North Sydney Council continues to provide community events (in Covid-19 safe times). In Conversations – Death and Dying The North Sydney Community Centre also hosted these great … Read more
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