I am available to listen, to share resources and my experience as a death educator and doula. I am offering my support from home by phone. I will not be charging for my services but will accept tips or trades if you are able and moved to do so. I continue to update my knowledge of the current and ever-changing landscape of medical care, palliative services, and funeral arts. What I can do from here:
- Advance Directives: I can walk you thru creating simple advance directives that prioritize choosing a representative who will speak for you if you are not able and communicating your values and wishes to aid them in doing so.
- Advocacy: I will listen to you and provide emotional and practical support for making decisions for yourself and your loved ones.
- Research and Coordination: Under the best conditions, navigating end-of- life requires a circle of support. I will do my best to assist you in finding the information you need and coordinating a plan that activates your circle of support.
How do we prepare for death and grief when so much of the fear we hold is about anticipating all that we cannot know and control?
I learn what is knowable, communicate my values to my people, and continue to practice holding gently the unknown. This means, reminding myself often that the future is unknown. The process of making peace with not-knowing is an exercise that can soothe anxiety and create space for curiosity. Below you will find some resources. You will not find a solution to all the many challenges that we may face going forward. You will find evidence of growing infrastructure that we will need to build together as we increase our capacities to show up for ourselves and each other. We will all continue to navigate illness, death, and grief, universal experiences that are inextricable from the love and joy of each of our precious lives.
During this time where conditions and available resources are changing rapidly, I have been collecting information and ideas to share from some of my favorite organizations whose research and approach I trust and rely on in my work.
Advance Planning and Directives
- covid-19 advance planning worksheet (Conversation Project)
- Watch Gretchen Brauer-Rieke’s webinar on Advance Planning In the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/1/2020)
- Respecting Choices : COVID-19 Resources
- Conversation Project: covid-19 resources
- Planning Steps for Patient and Families During the COVID-19 Crisis (from Center to Advance Palliative Care)
- Life Support During the COVID0-19 Pandemic (Decision Aid)
- COVID-19 Shared Decision-Making Tool (from NHPCO)
Dying at Home
- National Home Funeral Alliance : Pandemic Resources for Facing End of Life
- Pandemic Care Guide from Oregon Funeral Resources and Education
- Dying & Caring for the Dying at Home, print-at-home booklet from A Sacred Passing
Funeral and Disposition Use the ideas here to create meaningful ways to honor the dying, the deceased, and the bereaved while physically distant.
- The Order of the Good Death Funerals & Dying in Absentia: Inspiration & Tips During Covid-19
- Home Funerals Guides and Pandemic Care, video by seasoned home funeral guides and progressive funeral directors, featured in Newsweek
- Postponed Funerals, video guidance from Josh Slocum, Funeral Consumers Alliance
More Death Education
- Barbara Karnes hospice nurse educator blog posts
- EOL University Podcasts with Dr. Karen Wyatt
