I have heard it said that “Life is terminal – and it is sexually transmitted! I do believe there is wisdom in the statement “Death education left to the death bed is as inappropriate as sex education left to the marital bed”.
So, if death is universal and if we need to prepare… the big question is HOW?
According to the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) “Speak Up Campaign” Advance Care Planning is all about “conversations”. For those Baby Boomers and others who place a high value on autonomy, it is especially important to have these conversations! For those who do not want to burden their families with making decisions on our behalf without knowledge, it is especially important to have these conversations!
But, for some people talking about dying and end of life issues is as difficult as talking about sex with kids. So how can we open the door to talk?
Here are a few resources that might be helpful:
In the past year there have been fabulous articles in the press about aging, decision making, hospice palliative care etc… here are just a few articles or blogs
Events include but are definitely NOT limited to:
Media, music, movies, art,… can certainly trigger conversation.
This list is just a start! Please add your favorites! How do you open the door to conversations? How have your loved ones opened the door? How do you open the door as a professional?
Ask most people when palliative care should start for someone living with dementia, and you'll often hear "near…
By: Dr Daphna Grossman When we talk about dementia, there is so much to talk about. We talk…
Maria Panzera Rugg's Women's Equality Day reflection on Personal Support Workers/Care Aides named something that shouldn't need naming,…