"Thinking about death can be difficult, but it can also lead to clarity, connection and dignity.”
Photo: Jillian Adams
Photo: Jillian Adams
By Catherine Watson
WHEN it comes to death, most of us are procrastinators. We know it’s coming … but we’ll think about it later.
However, a growing number of Bass Coast residents are ready to face the big questions: “How do I want to die? Who will make decisions if I can’t? What kind of care do I want at the end?”
More than 70 people turned up to a conversation about dying well at Cape Paterson last Friday. There’s another session at the Wonthaggi Town Hall this Friday, October 17. The free event, hosted by U3A Wonthaggi, will explore what it means to die well, and how to plan for it.
WHEN it comes to death, most of us are procrastinators. We know it’s coming … but we’ll think about it later.
However, a growing number of Bass Coast residents are ready to face the big questions: “How do I want to die? Who will make decisions if I can’t? What kind of care do I want at the end?”
More than 70 people turned up to a conversation about dying well at Cape Paterson last Friday. There’s another session at the Wonthaggi Town Hall this Friday, October 17. The free event, hosted by U3A Wonthaggi, will explore what it means to die well, and how to plan for it.
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The speakers are Associate Professor Jo Rayner, principal research fellow at La Trobe University’s Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care, and Lisa Thornhill, a registered nurse and Bass Coast Health’s palliative care co-ordinator.
They’ll cover everything from advance care directives and local palliative care services to the laws around voluntary assisted dying. |
A conversation about end of life and dying well, Wonthaggi Town Hall, Friday October 17, 10am-11.30, followed by morning tea. This is a free event but please book on Eventbrite to help with catering. |
With 38 per cent of Bass Coast residents over 60 – compared with 23 per cent across Australia – it’s a conversation whose time has come, says organiser Jillian Adams.
“In centuries past, people died at home and death was familiar. These days most deaths happen in hospitals, so we’ve lost that connection,” she says. “But I think there’s a bit of a renaissance now. People do want to talk about it, and to make choices about their final months and days.”
She volunteered to organise the event – funded by the Gippsland Primary Health Network – because she has a background in health promotion but she has a personal interest as well. “I’m ageing too.”
She says the conversation aims to take the fear and taboo out of the subject of dying.
“In centuries past, people died at home and death was familiar. These days most deaths happen in hospitals, so we’ve lost that connection,” she says. “But I think there’s a bit of a renaissance now. People do want to talk about it, and to make choices about their final months and days.”
She volunteered to organise the event – funded by the Gippsland Primary Health Network – because she has a background in health promotion but she has a personal interest as well. “I’m ageing too.”
She says the conversation aims to take the fear and taboo out of the subject of dying.
“Most people don’t think they’re going to die until it hits them in the face. Thinking about death can be difficult, but it can also lead to clarity, connection and dignity.”
Jillian Adams
“Dying well is about identifying your values and holding them true in the choices you make,” she adds. “Those choices might be about treatment — or not having treatment — about palliative care, or voluntary assisted dying, or about where you choose to die.
“It’s a very personal thing, but it’s so much easier if you’ve thought about it beforehand, and talked to your loved ones about what matters to you.”
The Cape Paterson session, she says, was relaxed and open. “Jo asked questions of Lisa, and people could ask questions at the end. It was very comfortable.”
“It’s a very personal thing, but it’s so much easier if you’ve thought about it beforehand, and talked to your loved ones about what matters to you.”
The Cape Paterson session, she says, was relaxed and open. “Jo asked questions of Lisa, and people could ask questions at the end. It was very comfortable.”