Conversations about death don't have to be morbid. Following the 'Positive Death Movement' and public education such as Death Cafés, many of us yearn to speak more openly about dying and death in ways that are more natural and direct. 21 Days to Die was written in that spirit, in the hope that all Canadians will come to recognize the signs of physical death and the sequence to facilitate necessary conversations and better timely decision-making. The book addresses both the medical and advanced care planning aspects, but also aspects such as psycho-social needs, grief work, rites of passage and much more. Written by a social worker and lay Buddhist Chaplain, 21 Days to Die inspires fearlessness in the face of seeing what doesn't want to be seen. Under these circumstances the mindfulness practices of being fully present in the moment and remembering the impermanence of all living things are both universal and calming. Dying people deserve loved ones who are prepared to take the journey with them to their final breaths with their eyes wide open. Resources - 18 practical lists encapsulating key points from the book - 35 essential Canadian end-of-life resources with QR codes for easy, on-the-spot access

For readers of Atul Gawande and Paul Kalanithi, a palliative care doctor's breathtaking stories from 30 years spent caring for the dying. Modern medical technology is allowing us to live longer and fuller lives than ever before. And for the most part, that is good news. But with changes in the way we understand medicine come changes in the way we understand death. Once a familiar, peaceful, and gentle -- if sorrowful -- transition, death has come to be something from which we shield our eyes, as we prefer to fight desperately against it rather than accept its inevitability. Dr. Kathryn Mannix has studied and practiced palliative care for thirty years. In With the End in Mind , she shares beautifully crafted stories from a lifetime of caring for the dying, and makes a compelling case for the therapeutic power of approaching death not with trepidation, but with openness, clarity, and understanding. Weaving the details of her own experiences as a caregiver through stories of her patients, their families, and their distinctive lives, Dr. Mannix reacquaints us with the universal, but deeply personal, process of dying. With insightful meditations on life, death, and the space between them, With the End in Mind describes the possibility of meeting death gently, with forethought and preparation, and shows the unexpected beauty, dignity, and profound humanity of life coming to an end.

Timeless wisdom on death and dying from the celebrated Stoic philosopher Seneca "It takes an entire lifetime to learn how to die," wrote the Roman Stoic philosopher Seneca (c. 4 BC–65 AD). He counseled readers to "study death always," and took his own advice, returning to the subject again and again in all his writings, yet he never treated it in a complete work. How to Die gathers in one volume, for the first time, Seneca's remarkable meditations on death and dying. Edited and translated by James S. Romm, How to Die reveals a provocative thinker and dazzling writer who speaks with a startling frankness about the need to accept death or even, under certain conditions, to seek it out. Seneca believed that life is only a journey toward death and that one must rehearse for death throughout life. Here, he tells us how to practice for death, how to die well, and how to understand the role of a good death in a good life. He stresses the universality of death, its importance as life's final rite of passage, and its ability to liberate us from pain, slavery, or political oppression. Featuring beautifully rendered new translations, How to Die also includes an enlightening introduction, notes, the original Latin texts, and an epilogue presenting Tacitus's description of Seneca's grim suicide.

This practical handbook will equip readers with the tools to have meaningful conversations about death and dying Death is a part of life. We used to understand this, and in the past, loved ones generally died at home with family around them. But in just a few generations, death has become a medical event, and we have lost the ability to make this last part of life more personal and meaningful. Today people want to regain control over health-care decisions for themselves and their loved ones. Talking About Death Won’t Kill You is the essential handbook to help Canadians navigate personal and medical decisions for the best quality of life for the end of our lives. Noted palliative-care educator and researcher Kathy Kortes-Miller shows readers how to identify and reframe limiting beliefs about dying with humor and compassion. With robust resource lists, Kortes-Miller addresses advance care plans for ourselves and our loved ones how to have conversations about end-of-life wishes with loved ones how to talk to children about death how to build a compassionate workplace practical strategies to support our colleagues how to talk to health-care practitioners how to manage challenging family dynamics as someone is dying what is involved in medical assistance in dying (MAID) Far from morbid, these conversations are full of meaning and life — and the relief that comes from knowing what your loved ones want, and what you want for yourself.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Have you been told someone you love is dying? Are you feeling lost, overwhelmed, anxious, or feeling like you have no idea what to do or what to expect? Are you determined to keep the one you love free from pain and discomfort? Are you desperate for help? Then keep reading...Death is an inescapable part of human life. Yet, as magnificent as modern medicine has become, it simply does not prepare us for this inevitable reality. And so, when that time does come, when we find out someone we love is dying, we are overcome with shock, sadness, and fear.As a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Death Coach, Katie Duncan has been an end-of-life guide for many precious humans and a mentor to their heartbroken families. Through her years of experience with death and dying, Duncan explains the process as transitional stages beginning months before death. She will leave caregivers feeling empowered and prepared in what is likely to be the most challenging, vulnerable, and distressing time of their life. In this guidebook, you will discover...Expertise walking you through the last moments of human life.Simple yet effective ways to keeping your loved one free from pain and discomfort.Surprising ways death and dying are similar to birth.The most meaningful words to share and the most precious gifts you can give your loved one before they die.Powerful stories that will open your eyes to the unique treasures of death and dying.Remarkable ways death and dying lend the opportunity for so much beauty, wonder, and tranquility. Forgotten but essential "To-Do's" before your the death of a loved one.Crucial self-care techniques to avoid caregiver burnout.The Dying Process will reframe your fears and uncertainties when caring for someone at the end of life. Whether you are a family member searching for answers, a caregiver looking for recommendations, or a friend just trying to understand, you will receive invaluable tools and guidance to support your loved one through the last days of their life.Help your loved one find peace and "Add to Cart" Now!

This “comforting…thoughtful” (The Washington Post) guide to maintaining a high quality of life—from resilient old age to the first inklings of a serious illness to the final breath—by the New York Times bestselling author of Knocking on Heaven’s Door is a “roadmap to the end that combines medical, practical, and spiritual guidance” (The Boston Globe). “A common sense path to define what a ‘good’ death looks like” (USA TODAY), The Art of Dying Well is about living as well as possible for as long as possible and adapting successfully to change. Packed with extraordinarily helpful insights and inspiring true stories, award-winning journalist Katy Butler shows how to thrive in later life (even when coping with a chronic medical condition), how to get the best from our health system, and how to make your own “good death” more likely. Butler explains how to successfully age in place, why to pick a younger doctor and how to have an honest conversation with them, when not to call 911, and how to make your death a sacred rite of passage rather than a medical event. This handbook of preparations—practical, communal, physical, and spiritual—will help you make the most of your remaining time, be it decades, years, or months. Based on Butler’s experience caring for aging parents, and hundreds of interviews with people who have successfully navigated our fragmented health system and helped their loved ones have good deaths, The Art of Dying Well also draws on the expertise of national leaders in family medicine, palliative care, geriatrics, oncology, and hospice. This “empowering guide clearly outlines the steps necessary to prepare for a beautiful death without fear” (Shelf Awareness).