Walking through the Lane Cove neighbourhood in Sydney this morning we came upon an art installation by Tara Naval. Called Titles of an Imagination, 2019, it’s a “mixed media- resin, organic materials, glass, bric-a-brac, papercraft” exhibition that sits on a plinth in the public space outside the local library, so … Read more
We love this one. Prof Joe is so clear and gentle…and he knows how to tell a good story. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30eXWq80E00&feature=youtu.be For more from Prof Joe, including a range of brilliant resources, go to: https://www.profjoe.com.au/ For more good communication on advance planning, go to:
“All lives don’t matter until black lives matter,” a young protester in Sydney told the ABC on Tuesday night. American George Floyd’s death has triggered distress in Australia’s Indigenous families about their own people’s continued deaths at the hands of authorities. Change appeared to come after a Royal Commission into … Read more
If ever there were an illustration of the link between politics and mortality statistics, George Floyd symbolises it. The video of a Minneapolis policeman with his knee pressed down on George’s neck, in an act that would kill him, is now infamous. It has incited riots and protests all over … Read more
Ventilators keeping more than 8000 patients alive, in nursing homes: it doesn’t seem plausible. But it’s true. In the US today approximately 8200 ventilators are being used in nursing homes, triggering a debate about whether these should be turned over to covid-19 patients, in the event of the country’s ventilator … Read more
Covid-19 has exposed the confusion in our culture between being old and fit – with many more years left in you and being elderly and frail and near death. Before Covid-19, the ordinary flu would wipe out a surprisingly large number of elderly people each winter. No-one thought about it … Read more
What do you say to someone who’s recently been bereaved? “Contact, listen and bless,” says the UK’s At A Loss organisation. The bless is “shower with good things”. At A Loss’s tips include: make contact, even if you’re unsure about it call, don’t video call be prepared to leave a … Read more
Jenny McFadden has started a Facebook group, Covid Safe Elders Australia. People can get in touch with the group and share their concerns about the way the elderly are being managed during Covid-19. “We’re interested in people who have experiences and stories about aged care. These experiences can help us … 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
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
Sydney reader Sue Reid has written a testimonial of A Good Death, available through Murdoch Books. This book has been of great use to my family as we reorganised mum (aged 90 years) and dad’s (aged 91 years) affairs over the past year. Their will was over 10 years old … Read more
I was just about to walk out the door to have dinner with my sister and cousin. It’s that kind of moment isn’t it, a moment when social distancing and all it implies means that family are the best people to be with. They’ll forgive you if you suddenly sneeze … Read more
In the line of work Gus Worland does, he sees a lot of men suffering because they’re not allowed to express their grief and other sad emotions. It’s something he’s challenging. Gus’s work is about helping men to cope better with grief and other negative emotions. Gus believes we need … Read more
Gotcha4Life is a great network for men to help each other cope when grief strikes – and to help build resilience before it does. It’s also a heck of a lot of FUN. To see all the community events that you can be part of this year go to the … Read more