11 steps to a good death – during Covid-19, these strange times. Strange is the right word for now. It is non-judgmental. It says this Covid-19 crisis is different, unfamiliar, something new to be navigated. The following list is adapted from the steps outlined in A Good Death: a compassionate … Read more
As Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced an ‘early mark’ for Australians on social distancing restrictions from Saturday 2 May, 2020, because of our success in controlling Covid-19, the spotlight stays on the continuing sources of outbreaks – including aged care facilities. Scrutiny will ensure we don’t have a sudden … Read more
Over the weekend Ann Fahey, 76, a resident who twice before had tested negative to it, died of Covid-19. She was the fourteenth person to die at Newmarch House, where by Sunday night, 23 residents and 26 staff had tested positive to the virus. On Sunday, Jodi McKay Leader of … Read more
We Australians (and New Zealanders) have the unusual habit of honouring a day and time of great national loss, when we celebrate our national day, Anzac Day, on 25 April. Most other nations celebrate a victory on these occasions. But this year our honouring of that day is a little … Read more
By yesterday (April 20) Anglicare’s Newmarch House, in Sydney’s western suburbs, had reported two deaths and 41 infections with Covid-19. This follows six deaths at the Dorothy Henderson aged care facility in Sydney’s Macquarie Park, after infections there last month. No nursing home wants to repeat that experience. So this … Read more
Tough stories of fragmented mourning in Australia, due to Covid-19, have been shared with us this week. People are improvising in response. A small group in one case used Facetime to share an important graveside moment, even though they wouldn’t normally. Another family have embalmed the deceased in the hope … Read more
Patients who need resuscitation are being managed very differently because of Covid-19, something that is causing concern for emergency medicine specialists. They fear that resuscitation efforts won’t meet the standard we are used to in emergency departments, so non-Covid-19 patients will become ‘collateral damage’. “I understand that we need to protect … Read more
The photo of Alma Clara Corsini, a 95-year-old survivor of Covid-19 has bounced around the stratosphere since March 24. We still love it. There have been other elderly survivors since, but just sayin’.
This article was updated on Friday, June 3, 2022. Human communication takes a battering when we have to rely on technology to say hello to friends and family or run a meeting. Technology use during covid can be more tiring, as psychiatrist Gianpiero Petriglieri explained very clearly in a recent … Read more
This week we shared the story of Matthew with subscribers to the Good Grief! newsletter. (To reach it, go to: https://good-grief.com.au/grief-in-the-time-of-covid-19) The story explains how Matthew was counting on his social connections to overcome his grief. But that opportunity is now denied him because of the social distancing and stay … Read more
Palliative care specialist MICHAEL BARBATO writes and teaches about how to bring love and kindness to the dying. Here are his thoughts on the challenges to this goal with Covid-19. He also has a terrific recommendation to read, Rachel Coghlan’s piece on “small but potent acts of compassion.” See the … Read more
We mustn’t forget the others, like Matthew Updated 13.2.22 In 2020 we interviewed Matthew for our Good Grief! newsletter. The story of his grief journey is still pertinent. But we’re pleased to report, he identifies himself as having experienced post-grief growth since we first spoke to him. To see that … Read more
Dr Michelle Atchison agrees with Matthew that, as Covid-19 imposes isolation on the grieving, it is an important time for professionals in the grief area to reach out to their patients. She is the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists Chair of Private Practice, and also works in … Read more
Our neighbourhoods are full of people with wisdom to share, especially on the subject of grief. We can all learn from them, especially now with Covid-19. Here is Robin Low’s story and word of wisdom. I grew up in a gorgeous family, with lots of support. But it was an … Read more
CEO of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement, Chris Hall, shares some thoughts on the lessons we can learn from the first war of the twentieth century. Covid-19 will change our sense of self. Some of the clues to how this will happen come from looking at World War … Read more
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