The posts listed on this page may help you in thinking, talking and planning around the inevitability of your death or the death of a loved one:
How to talk about death? This post explores why we don’t like to talk about death, and why we need to talk about death. It also offers a script for starting the conversation about death with someone you love.
Death Café: Finally! Americans talk about death If you are fortunate enough to live in a town or city where Death Cafes are being offered, please consider attending this dynamic discussion group. This post explains the movement of Death Cafe around the world, and highlights the process that is used to promote discussions among people of diverse backgrounds and interests. Sometimes, it is easier to talk about death with people you do not know before you engage in those talks with your loved ones.
We Die the Way We Live This post discusses how and why people face death differently, from full on planning for their death and funeral, to not wanting to discuss death or plan for it.
How do we stay in our homes until we die? and How do we stay in our homes until we die? Part 2 make up a two part series on home safety for people who are planning to remain in their home, as independently as possible, until they die.
How to Stop Thefts from Elders and the Dead Living alone or as a couple in your home in your later years of life can make you a target for predators who would steal your identity and your money or property. This post outlines ways in which you can safeguard your identity and your property from those who would steal from you. This is especially important if you have private caregivers, attendants or cleaning staff entering your home to help support you.
Stop Theft From Elders: A Checklist to Age-Proof a Home Aganst Theft is a shorter version of the longer post How To Stop Thefts from Elders and the Dead, in checklist form. This is meant to be a quick reference post to help people who are beginning the process of age-proofing a home to prevent theft from elders. It is also helpful for people facing a short term disability that will make them dependent on in home caregivers (e.g. broken hip, hip replacement, knee replacement) and support staff coming into the home.
What is Hospice? How Do I Get It? In planning for death, it is important to understand the benefits around home health and hospice that are covered by your health insurance. These important benefits are designed to support you and your loved ones at the time of death. It is also important to know what resources exist in your community to support living at home until you die, especially if you are living in a more rural area of the country.
Emergency Medical ID Bands: A USB Drive Can Save Your Life If you are living with a chronic disease or serious allergies, this new form of the medical alert bracelet just might save your life in an emergency. The new medical alert bracelets contain USB drives that can be loaded with your health care information to help emergency medical personnel to care for you, contact your medical agent if you are unable to speak for yourself, get to your treating physician quickly, know your insurance, and your current medications. If you live alone, this bracelet is even more important to have on your person, in your purse, or pocket when you are away from home.
How to be Creative in Celebrations of Life The best possible funeral or celebration of your life is one you plan for yourself. This post offers ideas to those who are planning for their deaths, as well as for those who might be called to plan such a celebration or funeral and burial.
The Loneliness Series Part 1 Aging in place at home has its challenges. Emotionally, living alone in advanced years of life can be a difficult time. There is being alone, and then there is being lonely. This series of posts explores the emotional problem of loneliness at every generation and discusses how to find a purpose in each day and how to remain connected in a high tech world.