Jane and Richard talk about the last few months of life
“Have you been around during the last months of someone’s life, either a friend or a relative?”
Help with end of life care directions has just arrived.
Help with end of life care directions has just arrived – for elderly Australians – in the form of the ELDAC website. (https://www.eldac.com.au/) Funded and supported by the Australian Government, it’s an internet tool developed by palliative care experts from around the country. The package has documents, videos and information … Read more
Could an end of life doula help to midwife your death?
Could an end of life doula, or amicus mortis help to midwife your death? ‘Doula’ is a Greek word for a woman who gives support, help, and advice to another woman during pregnancy and during and after birth. The word has now spread to cover the same style of care for someone who is dying.
Other expressions which cover support at the end of life are “midwife to the dying” and the Latin term “amicus mortis”, the friend of the dying.
Spiritual experiences around the time of death
Spiritual experiences around the time of death can be very powerful. Sometimes these alert others that someone they love has died. My friend Carolyn Parfitt shares a story that is a good example of this. “My husband and I were away camping in Kakadu National Park and we were out … Read more
Have your say…for a few more weeks
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
Wow! Would you dare host one of these dinners?
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/
Author Leah Kaminsky shares her insights
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
Not a time to go it alone
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
Talking about the ‘D’ word.
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
The Conversation project
The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Statistics show that everything Ellen Goodman says about the American experience is the same in Australia. That is, we have the same gap between the death people say they want and the death they have. … Read more
Who needs to know?
When someone dies who needs to be told? It can be hard to work this out, especially when you are grieving. It may not feel necessary and it may be the last thing on your mind. But letting the appropriate people know will stop them from sending unnecessary mail and … Read more
Quality time at the sunset of his father’s days.
Blue is a yachtie who lives a life of extraordinary adventure. He has sailed – successfully – the ‘wrong way’ around Cape Horn, worked for a stint as Rudolf Nureyev’s personal assistant, and written a book about it, A Year With Rudolf Nureyev, with his uncle Derek. His action-packed sailing photos, complete … Read more
Patients need the truth at the end, says Jeanette
Heather Wiseman interviews Jeanette Lacey for Palliative Care Australia. “In my experience, about 85 per cent of Intensive Care Unit patients who had chronic and complex health conditions had never considered that they might be terminal in nature. Often it was only when they came to intensive care with an … Read more
Dying to Know Day
Dying To Know Day is an annual day of action dedicated to bringing to life conversations and community actions around death, dying and bereavement. D2KDay launched in 2013 and has seen 285 events and has sparked thousands of conversations about death, dying and bereavement. Go to the Dying To … Read more
Breaking barriers to dying well – update
~~~ “About 70% of Australians have specific wishes about their end of life care but very few get to put these into practice” says Independent Patient Supporter & Advocate, Dorothy Kamaker. “In the United States it’s estimated that between 25 to 30 per cent of people achieve these wishes but … Read more