I grew up in a family where death and dying was a normal part of life. Sometimes the deaths were expected following an illness or old age and other times they were unexpected following a traumatic event. Either way, there was sadness and grief, however, culturally we came together to vigil over a 3 day period where there would be story telling about the dead person, songs to soothe sore hearts, jo
kes to bring in laughter and food to ensure everyone was nourished. Life has taught me that a lot of people are uncomfortable talking about death as much as death itself. We grow up planning for great milestones in life that include graduations, engagements, weddings, travel, buying real estate and so much more. Our last milestone will rarely get a conversation outside of a Will which, statistically, the majority of people die without one leaving a legacy of chaos, compounded grief and greater than necessary legal bills. Being death prepared does not have to be scary nor does it have to be lonely. It does require relevant documentation, conversations with significant people about your life, and end of life wishes; it may mean planning for in home care services as death nears or it may mean transportation to an appropriate facility. Being death prepared does mean those you leave behind aren't being hit by a tsunami of overwhelm because all final instructions and wishes are in place, waiting to be rolled out. Being death prepared allows for you to ease into your final days in peace, in calm and hopefully in the warmth of those you care about most, being with you. Please note this page does not provide Medical advice, Legal advice or Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) services.
