Death and dying – it’s the one thing that we all have in common. We’re all dying – it’s just that most of us don’t know when. Considering this is the one event that will ultimately happen to each and every one of us – we spend little time thinking about or planning for the inevitable. It’s common to take the ostrich’s approach and not think about it –“after all – I’ll be dead”. Chances are though, our friends, family, pets, home and possessions will still be around. It makes sense to give the inevitable some thought. Get your ducks in a row – then get back to enjoying life.
Dying to Know Day occurs in August every year. The aim of Dying to Know Day is to start conversations about Death and Dying. There are events all over Australia aimed at lifting the lid on what was once a taboo subject and encouraging people to share their thoughts and let their loved ones know of their wishes.
As a Funeral Director and Location Manager from White Lady and Drysdale Funerals in Nambour, I sit down with bereaved families on a daily basis. Sometimes the loved one has left very specific instructions about their funeral wishes. This significantly reduces the stress on the bereaved as they know they are doing “what Dad wanted”. More often than not, however, the bereaved family really has no idea what the person wanted – and that makes things a lot harder.
Approaches to death and dying have changed over the years. We now have dedicated “death doulas” who specialise in caring for the dying and their families.
Voluntary Assisted Dying is now a reality in Queensland. Getting older, downsizing, retirement and end of life planning are all topics of interest. Elder Law and issues around Elder Abuse are increasingly topical. With many retiring to Queensland from the southern states – there are adult children living interstate that don’t have time to deal with the possessions of their parents once they have died. There are organisations that specialise in dealing with these issues. Is it worth pre-planning or even pre-paying your funeral? What about funeral insurance?
Drysdale and White Lady Funerals in Nambour are hosting a two and a half hour Dying to Know Day event on Saturday, 9 August from 10am. There will be guest speakers covering these topics, displays and information to take home, and lots of people happy to answer your questions.
