From Atul Gawande, a book that has the potential to change medicine – and lives. The following book description is from Atul Gawande’s website: Medicine has triumphed in modern times, transforming the dangers of childbirth, injury, and disease from harrowing to manageable. But when it comes to the inescapable realities of aging and death, what medicine can do often runs…
The following was written by Lorraine Fracy, who manages Woodland at Royal Oak Burial Park in Victoria. 15 years of Green Reflections…. Watching Mother Nature at her finest has been an awe-inspiring journey here at Royal Oak Burial Park. 500 plus bodies tucked into our beautiful space replanted with big leaf maples, dogwood, garry oaks and numerous native ground cover…
As you think about being kind to those you leave behind, consider the question of what a “good death” might look like for you. Would you prefer to die at home, surrounded by friends and family, if that were possible? Or would you like just one or two people by your side, and if so, who? If there is pain…
Medical assistance in dying has been legal in Canada since 2016. In 2021, Parliament approved expanding the eligibility criteria to include those with a mental disorder as their sole underlying condition. That change was to come into effect in March 2023, but the government paused it for another year in the face of widespread concerns over possible consequences. On Feb…
A death doula is a non-medical person trained to care for someone holistically (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) at the end-of-life. They recognize death as a natural, accepted, and honoured part of life. Death doulas are also known as end-of-life coaches, transition guides, and end-of-life doulas. Although we’ve been dying for thousands of years, it is only in the last…
There are many compelling reasons why people choose cremation, but presuming it is more eco-friendly than burial is often incorrect. In cremation, the body is placed inside a combustible container such as a cardboard or plywood box. This is burned in a chamber, also known as a retort, at a temperature between 1400 and 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, for about two…
A new year is a great time to set an intention to “get your ducks in a row”. Being prepared makes a huge difference; be kind to those you leave behind. The effort you put in now can save others incalculable time, money, heartache, and disagreements later. In broad strokes, there are two categories that need your attention – your…
The holiday season can feel like a punishment when you’re grieving. Forced festivity seems like it was created just to make the knots in your stomach even tighter. Seeing other people throwing parties and decorating trees and wearing ugly sweaters on purpose might make you want to crawl under your bed…and stay there until January 2. So how can you muster…
The book with this title by Megan Devine is about meeting grief and loss in a culture that doesn’t understand. She writes: Most of what passes for grief support these days is less than useful. Because we don’t talk about loss, most people—and many professionals—think of grief and loss as aberrations, detours from a normal, happy life. We believe that…
Written by Dr. Sarah Kerr, PhD, The Centre for Sacred Deathcare https://sacreddeathcare.com/ When someone dies, the first thing to do is nothing. Don’t run out and call the nurse. Don’t pick up the phone. Take a deep breath and be present to the magnitude of the moment. There’s a grace to being at the bedside of someone you love as…