Work has gone online – even, surprisingly, in the healthcare space. We’ve discovered more about what’s effective and what isn’t as lawyers, school teachers and sales people have developed new online practices. However, at times this can feel like two steps forward, one step back. Some Sydney lawyers report that … Read more
The USA has just passed a sombre milestone – 100,000 deaths from Covid-19. So what does this outcome show us about the intersection between health and politics? In a reflection which is echoed in reportage and analysis by many from all over America, CNN’s Stephen Collinson says: “A Columbia University … Read more
So what sort of end of life decisions might need to be made if you suffering from Covid-19? Like advance care planning with other diseases, you are stepping through a series of “If, then”s. Here’s information from the UK’s Royal College of Physicians about what happens in Covid-19 critical care. … Read more
We’ve found a good, practical, user-friendly resource that can help you with advance care planning if you become ill with Covid-19. The following message comes from, the US, one of the busiest countries dealing with Covid-19. Thank you very much to Colorado Care Planning at https://coloradocareplanning.org/ who helped us track … 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
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
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
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
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
In the era of Covid-19 communication and information to support the improvement of death, dying and grief in our culture is doubly important. Good Grief! serves this purpose. https://mailchi.mp/44584b5819fc/a-update-from-good-grief-about-covid-2241813 To sign up please go to: http://eepurl.com/dmYkjL To read regular updates in between, go to the Good Grief! website at: https://good-grief.com.au Thank … Read more
Palliative care is adapting to meet the needs of those with Covid-19 – and people dying of other causes. Palliative Care Australia has formed the Australian COVID-19 Palliative Care Working Group (ACPCWG) in partnership with palliative care related specialist groups. These are the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM), … Read more
My friend and journalist Helen Pitt tweeted the positive news in the accompanying photo recently. Here is today’s update: 212,018 people have now recovered from Covid-19. To follow updates on Covid-19 stats, go to: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-cases/ Marco, who works in construction, sent me what was close to an excellent resource on … Read more
Current mortality figures in Australia are still relatively low. This means Australia hasn’t yet hit enormous pressure on beds, intensive care units and ventilators. To see how and why these are needed, go to: https://good-grief.com.au/an-intensive-care-specialists-insight/ Good Grief! can confirm, that this reflects the anecdotal evidence of some of our specialist … Read more
The following article by Australian intensive care expert Professor Ken Hillman, in Inside Story, gives insight into the way Covid-19 is being managed by intensive care teams and the health system more generally. There are a couple of things to note. He points out that it is a very specific … Read more