Living Well Dying Well

Living Well- Dying Well

In Sept 2021 we held an Open Space  with the film “Love in our own Time,” followed by discussion.

As well as interested members of the community, we had representatives from many Care Services and Organisations in our local community attending, including

 

Geegeelup Aged Care, Henri Nuewen House, Natural Therapists, Palliative Care workers, Friendship Club, Religious groups, counsellors and more.

The film generated discussion on a wide range of topics

• palliative care, staff:patient ratios,
• giving time to listen to people in all stages of their lives,
• loneliness,
• intergenerational activities,
• music and cultural activities,
• developing a course on ‘Living as Community’,
• accompanying people spiritually as well as physically as they pass from life to death,
• local birthing and dying doulas,
• the shire ‘Age-Friendly Plan’ expired in 2020 – what has replaced it?
• compiling a Community Care Services Directory and
• the indigenous history of Bridgetown as a place of birthing and healing for women.
• the western world has improved in the coping of death and grief but could go much further by sharing, educating and honouring life as sacred.

If you have an interest to follow up on any aspect of these outcomes, let us know and we will endeavour to assist with further networking and discussion. We have the DVD of the film available for private viewing if you would like to borrow it? Any public viewing will require screening rights permission from the producer.  There is also a great reference book entitled “A Better Death”  It’s available from our town library.