11/23/2010
Movies Can Provide Death Education While looking for Pam Fitzgerald on the web, I came across a brilliant short video about grief, living with death, and our ongoing connections with our loved ones. In this video, clips of two movies, Last Orders (2001) and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) highlight the wishes of
Read More11/23/2010
Everyone needs self-care Last week I received a newsletter from someone I knew 30+ years ago. It was interesting to read a message that I have shared in different words,(not nearly as poetic! ) about the need for self-care in our lives. An excerpt from David’s email: “Pushed by ceaseless demands from all directions, it’s
Read More10/20/2010
Teaching is an art. Teaching is a pleasure…. when it goes well. Last month I had the opportunity to do one of those “didn’t go so well presentations”. The topic was a favorite. The group was fabulous. What went wrong? Parker Palmer writes in his book “The Courage to Teach” that good teachers having the
Read More09/24/2010
Hospice Palliative Care is all about team – and team is all about who shows up to play. Over the years I have noticed the difference when a strong, committed and talented pharmacist shows up to play. Bruce Kennedy is a pharmacist in Fraser Health. His kids, he says, figure he is “just a pharmacist”.
Read More07/26/2010
I am on a roll today highlighting Canadian resources. As part of a nation-wide effort to provide high-quality psychosocial care to all Canadians affected by cancer, several of Canada’s leading authorities for psychosocial oncology have partnered to provide counsellor-led online support groups. These online support groups are available to Canadians who have been diagnosed with
Read More07/26/2010
Cynthia Mitchell has launched her new website “From Loss to Life” at Fromlosstolife.com It appears that she will provide counselling for individuals and groups who have experienced a variety of losses, workshops on death education, and funeral/memorial services. The site offers: a blog, practical suggestions for people who are grieving, and a place for upcoming
Read More04/28/2010
Many of you have heard me talk about one of my favorite articles, which I consider a seminal paper, “The Ambiguous Dying Syndrome” written by Mercedes Bern-Klug. In this paper she explores the challenges experienced by those who are certainly dying, but their time of death is unknown, and as such, they miss out on
Read More02/22/2010
I received notice of this interesting one day forum titled: The Final Disposition De-Mystifying Death, Funerals, Cemeteries & Ceremonies.Mountain View Cemetery is a wonderful location with a beautiful celebration hall where this forum will be held. I have attended a seminar there before, sponsored by Lees and Associates on Cemeteries, and was so impressed with
Read More01/28/2010
Together with the rest of humanity, we share the sorrow of the people of Haiti and their loved ones wherever they are. Over the past weeks I have reflected on this tragedy from the perspective of a thanatologist, a hospice nurse, a mom, and a neighbour. Each of these perspectives brings me new thoughts, new
Read More01/13/2010
Using Podcasts in HCW and Nurse’s Classrooms Life and Death Matters provides custom built podcasts that reinforce the learning concepts in the textbooks. Educators can choose to use the podcasts in class, to stimulate discussions and group projects. Podcasts can also be accessed by students and used in flipped classrooms scenarios, to promote independent learning.
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