We Need to Talk About Death and Dying

Old Trackway above Macclesfield, a special spot

Hi everyone
I had some lovely FB responses to my first post - copied here 

Sue -Totally agree Deborah and am v much looking forward to talking with you soon. Have seen several loved ones through dying at home and worked several years as therapist with people facing death. Looking forward v much to hearing what you're learning

Jayne - Totally agree Deborah - we def need to talk about death and dying - from all aspects! I've recently been researching the ecological impact on different ways that human bodies can be disposed of. I've written a will and written a very detailed instruction letter about what I want to happen with my body after death. It was a good process to go through and paradoxically very life affirming!

Tracey - I am so glad that I had this discussion with my mother before she passed away... it really helped.

Thank you

I was also told that the bi-monthly journal 'Positive News' currently had a piece on Dying. This proved to have some very interesting links

www.psychologicalscience.org/news/releases/emotions-dying-positive.html  (Researches surprised to find that people approaching death were more positive than those contemplating their own death)

www.loveandlostproject.co.uk  Simon invites people to send in a photo of themselves with someone they have lost, and he then takes them back to the place and photographs them alone, as a way of remembering the lost one.

www.dyingmatters.org  Raising awareness of Dying Death and Bereavement

BTW I have a new job, I'm going to be doing overnight shifts for Hospice at Home. I will be working specifically with people in the last two weeks of their life, such an honour.  My current job hasn't lived up to what I was expecting, however, I will continue with it too, part-time.

AND I am researching into end of life carers' training with a view to setting myself up as an independent trainer.  All the carers I have met have been fantastic, and the training I have been given has been great, however, it's all about health and safety.  There seems to be a gap in the training as to what Person Centered Care really means.  Dignity, maintaining the person's relationships and activities and enabling the person to make their own choices and decisions, are the core of Person Centred Care, and in general I have not seen these abused.  However, the fundamental skill and art of listening is rare.  I'm looking forward to the training I will receive with the Hospice, how much focus is given to Person Centeredness? I'll let you know.