This is a second interview with Carolyn Vaughan Illawarra-Shoalhaven Compassionate Communities local lead. Her first interview on Dying to Know Day, appears in this month’s (July 15) Good Grief! newsletter. To sign up to the Good Grief! newsletter, go to:https://good-grief.com.au/newsletter/ “Dying to Know Day is an annual event where we encourage … Read more
It might be time to scrutinise a report by a large non-government provider of health services in Australia – now that the second wave of Covid-19 threatens, this time in NSW. Back in April the Lessons Learnt from Covid19 report was released by Catholic Health Australia, the largest non-government provider … Read more
RK, 97, lives in a nursing home. He has dementia which is progressing rapidly and he’s losing his swallow reflex. So he’s more likely to aspirate food and saliva – inhaling them into his windpipe, causing pneumonia. And this is what happened, leading to fever, one night in late May … Read more
by Sandra Moon Writing about grief is a way to honour and remember loved ones beyond our typical cultural rituals says Karen Crofts, Director of the Hunter Writers Centre. “For people who do write about grief the writing process helps them because it makes them take the time to remember. … Read more
“Palliative and end of life care are absolutely critical parts of aged care,” Sean Rooney, Leading Age Services Australia CEO, told Good Grief! as the Federal budget with its big investment in aged care was announced. This follows the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety The Commission reported “confronting personal stories of under-resourcing, … Read more
I went to my letterbox this week and there was a wonderful surprise. My publisher at Murdoch Books and dear friend Corinne Roberts had sent me a parcel with the note: ‘Congratulations’. When I opened the package, there was a copy of the ‘simplified Chinese’ version of my book A … Read more
We’ve noticed Amy Sagar’s ad on her linkedIn page. She’s looking for a mortician for Tender Funerals at Port Kembla. Tender Funeral’s describes itself as a “community undertaking”, if you’ll excuse the pun, and they work creatively, cost efficiently and with care. “Tender Funerals is a not-for-profit funeral service delivering personalised, … Read more
It’s a pretty simple proposition. ‘Believe your eyes”, the prosecutor tells the jury of the 9 ½ minute video of George Floyd being killed by policeman Derek Chauvin. Often we’re encouraged to doubt what we see on film and video – because clips can be doctored. But not in this … Read more
I thought I was the early bird, just now sneaking in at 6.30 the evening before the big day to wish artist Guy Warren happy birthday. He turns 100 tomorrow. But family and friends are already at his house, celebrating with very classy French champagne. They are not leaving before … Read more
The answer is mostly no. How you feel about the risks is probably influenced by where you live. One of the paradoxes of the current situation for Australians is that our advantage of being isolated and far away from the places where Covid-19 has been rampant, is now our disadvantage. … Read more
Here’s Good Grief’s bullet point review of Volume 1 Summary and Recommendations, of Australia’s Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. It’s a report we want to help you keep an eye on. The Commission’s report, delivered last February, is a fantastic opportunity for everyone – including lay people, … Read more
Yes, this is our mantra too. We shared the link to this story in our March newsletter. “For many people, grief is private – and shameful. Two young women want to bring it out of the shadows,” writes Jehan Casinader, in this piece of Feb 27, from www.stuff.co.nz Jehan’s piece looks at gaps … Read more
Today, Good Friday, of course is a very important ‘death’ day in the Christian calendar. For those connected to the deeper level of Christian belief, it’s more important than Christmas Day – although it will be outranked in three days time by Easter Sunday. All the Christian denominations have in … Read more
Sadly, one person has died in the NSW floods. Our hearts go out to the young man’s family. The 25-year-old got trapped in his car at Glenorie, a place we know and love. News reports say he was caught by suddenly rising flood waters on Cattai Ridge Road. We’re thinking … Read more
We love this. Kathryn Mannix is a palliative care specialist from the UK who we admire. And she’s recently written a book on approaching death, With The End In Mind. This is a similar take to mine – which is not as surprising as it may seem. Because when people … Read more
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