You can find a Dying to Know Day event in your community by following the link we’ve inserted here.
But what is Dying to Know Day all about?
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 to know your plans.
Dying to Know Day happens throughout Australia tomorrow, on August 8 – although the events will continue all month. (We think Dying to Know Day should be every day.)
If you turn up to the Woollahra Library Tea Topics event on Tuesday, you’ll find me there, sharing practical ideas about how to achieve this empowerment.
And here’s a deeper dig into the topic by ExSitu, one of our sponsors, who wants to achieve the same thing as Dying to Know Day and Good Grief! – people who are better informed about death. Death education won’t kill you, the same as sex education won’t give you a baby. But understanding death better will help you in the same way that understanding birth better helps someone just about to have a baby.
“ExSitu helps you define and document what really matters to you so that your loved ones and health care providers can help you live life both now and in the future on your own terms,” they explain on their website.
Here is a snippet from their article for Dying to Know Day.
Getting Dead Set My Way is about community and kindness.
“I could beat the drum for being your usual sassy self. Or tell you that if you set up your care plans and end-of-life documentation, you’ll still get what you want, even if you lose capacity and cannot speak for yourself. That might happen. But even that’s not the whole ballgame. I could talk about how you can design something that is beautiful, meaningful and wonderful. Or how you could satiate your every whim and desire by outlining note by note how your unique care song goes.
“But the biggest benefit in setting up your care plan and asking for what you want as you age is an act of caring for others. Setting goals to maintain your physical and mental health, drawing up a treatment line, and deciding what your version of quality of life looks like is an act of supreme love for your family, friends and community.”
Setting goals to maintain your physical and mental health, drawing up a treatment line, and deciding what your version of quality of life looks like is an act of supreme love for your family, friends and community.
Ex Situ
To read the full article, go to: https://myexsitu.substack.com/p/getting-dead-set-your-way-is-an-act?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=514843&post_id=125180257&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
And more events…
And here’s a spotlight on two Dying to Know events – both organised by groups within their communities, who are working hard to build compassionate communities. ‘Compassionate Communities’ are part part of a global social movement encouraging and engaging communities to think about how care is provided to people who are dying.
Sutherland Shire Compassionate Community Conversations
Sutherland Shire Compassionate Community Conversations is the first step in sharing information about compassionate communities, explore existing supports and networks in our community plus hear what WE can do as a community to provide care and support to those of us who are caregiving, dying and grieving.
Join the conversation to discuss how we can build a compassionate community in the Sutherland Shire.
Tuesday , 8 Aug, 6:30- 8:30pm, Tradies Gymea 57 Manchester Road Gymea, NSW 2227
For more information, go to:https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/sutherland-shire-compassionate-community-conversations-tickets-658142831927
Newcastle Compassionate Community – webinar
Planning for Care Options at End of Life from 5.00pm – 6.30pm, 9 August.
Join Newcastle Compassionate Community advocates, Jeanette Lacey and Ruth Boydell, who will share their knowledge and expertise on how we can become more empowered to make the right choices for ourselves and our family members.
For the link to this event, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planning-for-care-options-at-end-of-life-rest-assured-webinar-tickets-677897699267
Here is something by Jeanette.