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Local
Dealing with a devastating life-threatening diagnosis: The Gini Rosen Story
In Support of Compassionate Communities, Alia Hogben, Kingston Whig Standard.
Provincial
Speak Up Ontario: Speak Up Ontario, a partnership between Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) and the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA), provides education and Ontario-based tools and resources that comply with Ontario laws. Included is information on Advance Care Planning.
Ontario Government, Attorney General: provides forms for both Power of Attorney for Property and Personal Care. … Note: The Ontario Government’s 1994 Power of Attorney Kit is still valid for use.
Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario: a network of specialized geriatric services created in collaboration with primary care physicians, community health professionals and others to meet the needs of frail and vulnerable seniors. Caregiver education included. Regional Geriatric Programs of Ontario.
National
Pallium Canada. The Compassionate Communities Exchange: a digital space to contribute to the conversations surrounding Compassionate Communities in Canada—learn from the inspiring work of other community champions across Canada and discover new resources to help you launch community-wide change.
Will the Millennials be the first generation to stop fearing death? Why an increasing number of young people are writing their wills and arranging their funerals. The Walrus.
International
The Town Trying to Cure Loneliness: Loneliness and isolation can trigger a host of other problems, particularly for our health. But a town in Somerset, in the United Kingdom, appears to have taken a big step towards alleviating the problem.
Mortals Anonymous: Death Cafes, a place where people go to talk about dying.
Death over Dinner: an uplifting interactive adventure that transforms this seemingly difficult conversation into one of deep engagement, insight and empowerment. We invite you to gather friends and family and fill a table.
How to prepare yourself for a good end of life. Katy Butler, author of “The Art of Dying Well” (Scribner, 2019).
Richard Smith: The public health of death, dying, and grief has been neglected, but now is the time.
Relevant Reading: Books
- Compassionate Cities – A. Kellehear
- The Compassion Project: a case for hope and human kindness from the town that beat loneliness– J. Abel & L. Clarke
- Matters of Life and Death – A. Picard
- Talking about Death Won’t Kill You – K. Kortes-Miller
- Humankind: a hopeful history – R. Bregman & E. Moore
- Soft City: building density for everyday life – D. Sim & J. Gehl
- Being Mortal – Atul Gawande
- Extreme Measures: Finding a Better Path to the End of Life – Jessica Zitter, MD.
- Die Wise – Stephen Jenkins
- They Left Us Everything: A Memoir – Plum Johnson
- When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi
- Crow – Amy Spurway
- Option B – Sandburg & Grant
- A Grief Observed – C.S. Lewis
- A Good Death – Sandra Martin
- The Year of Magical Thinking – Joan Didion
- Patrimony – Philip Roth
- On Grief and Grieving – Elizabeth Kubler-ROss
- A Bittersweet Season – Jane Gross
- Extra Ordinary – Miriam Spitzer Franklin
- The Book Thief – Marcus Zusak
- A Man Called Ove – Fredrik Backman
- Talking About Death Won’t Kill You – Kathy Kortes-Miller
- Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? – Roz Chast
- The End of Your Life Book Club – Will Schwalbe
- The Funeral – Matt James
- Saturday Night Widows – Becky Aikman
- Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom
- The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning – Margareta Magnusson
- With the End in Mind – Kathryn Mannix
- The Groundswell Project, Australia – a library on death literacy
Relevant Reading: Articles
Selected Publications (Research)
Advance Care Planning
- Speak Up Ontario: Advance Care Planning resources. They will send two free copies of the booklet.
- Attorney General, Government of Ontario: Forms for Powers of Attorney. The Powers of Attorney kit is at the bottom of the home page under the heading: Additional Resources. Be sure to read witness requirements before signing.
- Death over Dinner: Goal is to minimize the suffering and damage that can happen when people avoid talking about their end-of-life wishes — and to help people connect with loved ones, both while they’re healthy and as they approach death. Over 300,000 dinners have been held.
- Dying with Dignity: The national human-rights charity committed to improving quality of dying, protecting end-of-life rights, and helping Canadians avoid unwanted suffering.
- Go Wish: Values and beliefs game (click on bottom left square for free online use)
- Plan Well, Dr. Daren Heyland, Queen’s University
- The Conversation Project: A public engagement initiative with a goal that is both simple and transformative: to help everyone talk about their wishes for care through the end of life, so those wishes can be understood and respected.
- Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): The page includes an educational video as well as a guide which succinctly explains CPR, risks, likely outcomes, etc.
- Life Support: some information about life support.
- Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID): This subject is not part of our Advance Care Planning Sessions. However, a person wishing to choose MAiD must follow the application process provided on the Government of Ontario website. Currently, providing consent in advance of a specific date is not allowed. If you think you qualify for MAiD and want to know more, speak with your doctor or nurse practitioner who will answer your questions and, if you meet the criteria, assist you should you decide to choose MAiD.