I’m wondering today when we might get to a point of providing clearer and louder support for dying, not just bereavement.
Support for dying, not just bereavement
dying
Palliative care helps people live
This week, Professor Scott Murray talks about his belief that early palliative care helps people live with – not die from – a serious illness. A recent medical scare of his own means Scott has been able to bring a very different, personal lens to his thinking about his professional area of expertise.
How Alzheimer’s became a gift
This week’s blogger, Maggie, shares her experience of her mum’s Alzheimer’s.
“I’m at peace. I have no worries or fear. Death is nothing to be afraid of.”
Planning a good death
To kick off 2016, Jane Duncan Rogers ran a Planning a good death workshop, incorporating her own book, her Good Death Checklist and Final Fling’s planning tools, giving workshoppers the chance to chat, share, think, talk, plan and record. Here, Jane shares a bit about the session and the feedback. Our sell-out Planning a Good Death […]
3 things to offer the dying – the soul midwives way
“20 years ago this month, a traumatic session at the hospice where I volunteered sowed the seeds for Soul Midwives.” This is the story of the birth of soul midwives in the UK. It’s the (abridged) story of Felicity Warner, who has trained a network of people ready to support others through the final journey […]
Death workshops – my experience
Death workshops give you the opportunity to explore aspects of yourself that often don’t get a voice or space.
This week, Phil Goss, from Cumbria shares his experience of a Death Workshop. This might help you if you’re thinking about attending one.
We need to talk about death: The Telegraph reports
We need to talk about death. And if the largest circulation and most conservative daily newspaper – The Telegraph – is talking about it, we think this is a good day.
Alternative to writing a Will
Is there an alternative to writing a Will? To be honest, we don’t really think so. But since we like to think of Final Fling as spirited, creative and a wee bitty alternative, we really feel we ought to try.
When’s a good time for talking about death?
When is a good time for taking about death? We think any time at all. We advocate openness, tackling the taboo. We believe it’s good to talk to children about death and dying to make it a normal part of life, not something mysterious and scary. We think it’s good to check in from time with friends, family, partner on thoughts. This week we’ve invited Elaine Bramhall her thoughts the subject.
Death Cafe Glasgow | Dying Matters Awareness Week 2015
Final Fling is running a Death Cafe in Glasgow for Dying Matters Awareness Week.
This time we’re working with Douglas Hall, a bereavement counsellor, to explore emotions associated with death and dying.
Difficult conversations: young people and death
If you are close to young person who has a life-limiting condition – you might find this new guide to having conversations with young people about death helpful: Difficult conversations, by Together for Short Lives and the National Council for Palliative Care:
Sacred Transitions
Sacred Transitions offers a lay-person’s course to empower and inspire a timely change in our approach to death and dying. Together we will explore practical ways to care for and accompany a relative, friend or neighbour as they die. Dying can be a very sacred time of life. Awakening this aspect of ourselves can help us to […]
Bereavement fares
I’m grateful to friend of Final Fling, Becky, this week for sharing useful information about bereavement fares. Apparently some airlines offer special fares to support travellers rushing back home from travels because someone close to them is dying or has died. It’s not a huge amount – maybe 10% off – but every little helps.
#Good to Be Alive
I’m inviting Flingers to share one good reason that it’s Good to Be Alive this week. #GTBA Final Fling isn’t just about funerals and dying. It’s about the complex stuff we have to deal with while we’re alive. And part of that is actually being able to appreciate life. I’m very alert to the theme Good to Be […]
Assumptions about death
We can all make assumptions about death – even professionals who are working with death day in, day out. I came across a blog by Lizzy Miles, a hospice social worker in Ohio and thought it worth sharing 7 key points to help us improve our understanding of death.
Films on death and grief
Films on death and grief We have started a list of recommended films. Please do contact us if you have suggestions to add. Beyond Goodbye Remembering Josh: a 45 minute film that records Josh’s life as it was remembered at his funeral, with many wonderful musical contributions, stories and anecdotes. Beyond Goodbye: a shorter version of […]
Death and hope
3 out of 4 of us will die on a predictable trajectory… poor health, ageing, diagnosis all leading to the inevitable. What role does hope play in facing death?
Death and loss
Death and loss It’s a sad truth, but the fact is we’re all living and we’re all dying. As difficult as it may be to accept, death is an inevitable part of life. At Final Fling we don’t waste time dwelling on the negative of this, instead we see death as the counterpoint that makes […]
Books on death and grief
There are masses of great books on death and grief to support you coping with mortality, illness, dying, death and loss and funeral planning. Here are some of our recommended reading suggestions.
